Awareness and knowledge of glaucoma among primary care givers in a developing country

Abstract

Background: Glaucoma is the leading cause of untreatable blindness throughout the world, and it is commoner in the black race; therefore, primary health care givers should have some knowledge of glaucoma. The aim of this study is to determine the knowledge of primary health care givers about glaucoma in Sagamu Local Government area of Ogun State. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study of primary care givers in Sagamu, Ogun Sate was carried out between March and May 2010. A structured, self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on the awareness and knowledge of glaucoma from all registered primary health care givers working in Sagamu, Ogun State. The data was analyzed using SPSS 15. Results: One hundred and eighty-one workers responded (97.8%). There were 124 females (68.5%). Age range was 25 to 64 years, mean 41.2 ± 8.7 years. There were 68 (37.5%) physicians, 95 (52.5%) nurses, and 18 (10%) other workers. Ninety-seven percent of the workers were aware of glaucoma. Seventy-seven (42.5%) had good knowledge of glaucoma, while 104 (57.5%) had poor knowledge. Physicians were seven times more likely to know about glaucoma than nurses, while nurses were 4 times more likely to know about glaucoma than other community health workers, and these were statistically signi icant P < .0001. Younger age group between 25 and 34 years was 2.3 times likely to know of glaucoma than middle-aged. Conclusions: Though awareness of glaucoma was high, knowledge about glaucoma was, however, low among the study population. There is a need to sensitize all cadres of health staff, particularly the community health workers about glaucoma.

Awareness of Glaucoma and Eye Health Services Among Faith-based Communities in Kumasi, Ghana

“…One explanation for this may be that several of these studies focused on rural populations, with the exception of one other urban study in Togo reporting 30% awareness (12) . Conversely, the proportion is lower than findings among West African health science students, health workers and eye clinic attendees (14,15,17,18) , whose awareness ranged from 69 -100%. This is not surprising given the inherent bias of these populations.…”

“…Other studies among West African students, health workers and eye clinic attendees have found higher numbers having heard of glaucoma but few with actual knowledge about the disease (14)(15)(16)(17)(18) . Consequently, West Africa has a large unmet need for glaucoma health promotion (9,10,12,16,19) .…”

Prevalence, Awareness and Factors Associated with Glaucoma in a Rural Community of Ekiti State, South West Nigeria

“…counted for by the high level of development, high literacy rate and good access to health care in developed countries like Canada. Also, this study result predictably differs from that of a study conducted among Primary care givers, whose training gave them the opportunity to know about glaucoma, in Shagamu, Ogun State, with awareness of 97%[22]. The low level of awareness could be because of the insidious and initial asymptomatic nature of the disease and Open Journal of Ophthalmology poor access of the people to eye clinics with glaucoma screening facility and treatment.…”

Awareness among glaucoma patient at upper Egypt

“…According to risk factors of glaucoma Debjit et al 2012, Onabolu 2014 reported that: The major risk factors for glaucoma include the following: High intraocular pressure, age 50 or older, family history of glaucoma, African Americans, suspicious optic nerve appearance (cupping > 50%), thin cornea, high myopia, diabetes, hypertension, eye injury or surgery, history of steroid use, migraine, headaches, sleep apnea. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death worldwide.…”

“…Knowledge was defined as having some correct understanding of the disease (Onabolu, 2014). Risk factors: describes features that may be causal in disease, as they are statistically associated with the disease, and were (or could have been) present before its occurrence, and could conceivably have played an essential role along with other factors in incident disease.…”