The study aimed to assess the proportion of eye care service utilization and associated factors among older adults age � 40 years in Hawassa city, South Ethiopia, June 2019. Method A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among adults aged 40 years and above who permanently live in Hawassa city from April 25 to May 30, 2019. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 704 participants. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. The collected data was entered to EPI info version 7 & was analyzed by SPSS version 20. Binary logistic regression model was used to identify actual predictors of eye care service utilization. All variables were entered to multivariable analysis and variables with p-value < 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. Result A total of 668 adults participated with a response rate of 94.9%. The median (±IQR) age of study respondents was 48(±10) years and 52.7% were females. The proportion of eye care service utilization within the past 2 years was found to be 23.8% [95% CI: 20.5%-27.1%]. Having history of eye disease [AOR = 9.8, 95% CI: 6.1-15.6], having awareness of regular eye checkup importance [AOR = 7.3, 95% CI:4.4-12.2], older age (age �65 years) [AOR = 5.0, 95% CI:1.9-13.3] and higher family monthly income (income �6000 ETB) [AOR = 3.0, 95% CI:1.5-5.7] and income 4001-5999 ETB [AOR = 2.9, 95% CI: 1.4-5.9] were positively associated with eye care service utilization. Conclusion and recommendation The proportion of eye care service utilization among older adults in Hawassa city was low. Having a history of eye disease, having awareness about regular eye checkup importance, older age and higher family monthly income were significantly associated with utilization of

IntroductionVisual impairment (VI) is one of the major public health problems in the world. It is highly prevalent among children in sub-Saharan countries, including Ethiopia. Worldwide, the magnitude of VI among school-age children is 1%–10%. However, there was limited information regarding the prevalence and associated factors of VI among school-age children in the study area, which is essential to plan and implement appropriate interventions.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated factors of VI among school-age children livin g in Bahir Dar city, northwest Ethiopia.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was done on a sample of 632 school-age children selected by multistage sampling in Bahir Dar from April 30 to May 15, 2018. Data were collected through interviews and physical examinations. Face-to-face interviews were done with a pretested semistructured questionnaire. Physical examinations were done with visual acuity measures and assessment of ocular pathology by optometrists. Data were entered into Epi Info 7 and exported to and analyzed with SPSS 20. Binary logistic regression was fitted, and variables with P<0.05 in the multivariate model were considered statistically significant.ResultsA total of 601 study subjects were included in this study, giving a response rate of 95.2%. The median age was 13 (IQR 11–16) years, and 303 (50.3%) were male. Prevalence of VI was 52 (8.7%, 95% CI 6.2%–10.7%). In multivariate analysis, prematurity [AOR 2.8 (95% CI 1.19–6.83)], admission to a neonatal intensive-care unit (AOR 5.5, 95% CI 2.01–15.15), having a parent with VI (AOR 1.8, 95% CI 0.13–0.97), watching television from <2 m (AOR 8.7, 95% CI 1.49–18.24), and mobile-phone exposure >4 hours per day (AOR 1.6, 95% CI 1.32–4.45) were factors significantly associated with VI.ConclusionThe prevalence of VI among school-age children in Bahir Dar was significant. Premature birth, admission to a neonatal intensive-care unit, having a parent with VI, watching television from <2 m, and mobile exposure >4 hours per day were significantly associated.

Background Myopia is the leading cause of correctable visual impairment and preventable blindness worldwide. Genetic and environmental factors contribute to the development of myopia. Myopia is appearing with greater prevalence in young children. Objective This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of myopia among school children in Bahir Dar city, Northwest Ethiopia, 2019. Methods and materials A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among school children of 6 to 18 years of age in Bahir Dar city from October to November 2019. A pretested interviewer-administered structured questionnaire was used to collect data among 634 participants using a multi-stage sampling technique from primary and secondary schools. Cycloplegic refraction was performed by optometrists for each student with 1% cyclopentolate eye drop, and subjective refraction was carried out to determine the final prescription of the students. Myopia was defined as spherical equivalent refractive error of ≥ 0.5 diopter in either eye. Data were entered into Epi Info version 7 and exported to Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 23 for analysis. Tables, frequency, and mean were used for descriptive statistics. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were done to identify risk factors of myopia. Odds ratio with 95% confidence level was determined and variables with p–value of < 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. Results Among a total of 601 study participants, 51 (8.49%) were myopic. Age group of 10–13 years (AOR = 6.54: 95% CI = 5.56–10.86), 14–18 years (AOR = 6.32: 95% CI = 5.32–9.69), 2–4 hour per day mobile exposure (AOR = 3.69: 95% CI = 1.63–8.38), > 4 hour per day mobile exposure (AOR = 11.6: 95% CI = 4.41–30.42), near working distance of < 33 centimeter (AOR = 6.89: 95% CI = 2.71–17.56) and outdoor activity (AOR = 3.94: 95% CI = 1.87–8.31) were significantly associated with myopia. Conclusions The prevalence of myopia was high among school children in Bahir Dar city. Older age, longer duration of mobile exposure, shorter near working distance were the risk factors for the development of myopia whereas having outdoor activity was the protective factor.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of pterygium among adults in Kolla Diba town, Northwest Ethiopia, 2019. Method: A community-based cross-sectional study was done in Kolla Diba town from May 30-June 16, 2019. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select 627 study participants. Data was collected through basic ophthalmic examination with a portable slit lamp, 3x magnifying loop and torchlight and a pretested structured questionnaire were administered to collect the data. Then the data entered into EPI INFO version 7 and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression analysis were employed. P-values of <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Result: A total of 605 study participants were involved with a response rate of 96.5%. Among them 317 (52.4%) participants were males. The mean age of the respondents was 38.18 +/- 15.56 with a range of (18-95) in years. The overall Prevalence of pterygium among adults living in Kolla Diba town was 112 (18.5% (95% CI (15.6- 21.7)). Being widowed (AOR = 7.32 (95%CI: 2.88, 18.57)), outdoor occupation (AOR = 2.50 (95%CI: 1.46, 4.29)), sun exposure (AOR = 2.38 (95%CI: 1.28, 4.43)), wind exposure (AOR = 1.97 (95%CI: 1.04, 3.72)), alcohol drinking (AOR = 2.26 (95%CI: 1.48, 4.63)), and severe blepharitis (AOR = 2.45 (95%CI: 1.48, 4.05)) had statistically significant positive association with pterygium. Conclusion: The prevalence of pterygium was relatively higher. Marital status (being widowed), outdoor occupation, sun exposure, wind exposure, alcohol drinking, and severe blepharitis were significantly associated with the development of pterygium.

Traditional medicines are commonly used in Africa. About 13.2–82.3% of the population use traditional eye medicine. The aim of this study was to assess practice and associated factors among adult residents towards traditional eye medicine in Gondar city, North West Ethiopia. Methods. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 600 participants by using a pretested structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 computer software. Association and strength between dependent and independent variables were determined using odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval. Results. A total of 600 respondents participated in the study with a 95 % response rate. From the total study participants, 73 (12.2%) (95% CI: 10–15%) had used traditional eye medicine in the past two years. Variables such as being unmarried (AOR = 0.48 (95% CI: 0.17–0.83)), being illiterate (AOR = 5.40 (95% CI: 5.3–12.3)), living in traditional healers available area (AOR = 2.84 (95% CI: 1.44–7.56)), poor access to modern eye care services (AOR = 2.11 (95% CI: 1.06–4.19)), and positive family history of traditional eye medicine use (AOR = 4.00 (95% CI: 1.84–8.67)) were significantly associated with traditional eye medicine practice. Conclusion. The proportion of traditional eye medicine practice was low in the past two years in Gondar city, Ethiopia, as compared to most African and Asian studies like south East Nigeria and Nepal, respectively. This may be due to the presence of tertiary eye care centers in the city that lets the residents prefer modern eye medicines over traditional eye medicines. Positive family history of traditional eye medicine use, being unmarried, being illiterate, poor access to modern eye care service, and availability of traditional healers had a significant association with the practice of traditional eye medicine. Community awareness about traditional eye medicine use is important to reduce the risk of complications even if the proportion is low.