Causes of childhood blindness in Ghana: results from a blind school survey in Upper West Region, Ghana, and review of the literature

Huh, Grace J.; Simon, Judith C.; Prakalapakorn, S. Grace

doi:10.1007/s10792-017-0600-9

Cited by 11 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 11 publications

(32 reference statements)

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“…A large proportion of cases of unknown aetiology was encountered in the present study. This observation is consistent with results from other schoolbased studies in developing countries which used the WHO/PBL guidelines, 7,9,10,29,30 and reflects the limited scope for investigations available. Strategies to broaden the scope for appropriate intervention against childhood blindness in developing countries should be strengthened.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…Corneal scarring was a more prevalent blinding disease in southern Ghana compared to the north. This finding contradicts the foregoing 8,10 that corneal scarring/phthisis bulbi are more common in the north than in the south because of the poor public health infrastructure in the north that cannot effectively combat the underlying causes. The present trend therefore might hint at the progress that has been made to reduce avoidable blindness caused by corneal scarring in northern Ghana through increased coverage of measles immunisation and vitamin A supplementations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

“…7,9 Such information is required for prioritising blindness prevention programs to provide more precise interventions. The most recent blind school survey was a retrospective study in the Wa School for the Blind in northern Ghana, 10 and portrayed corneal scarring as the primary cause of childhood blindness.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Inter‐regional trends in causes of childhood blindness and low vision in Ghana

Ilechie

Wanye

Abraham

et al. 2020

Clinical and Experimental Optometry

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Background Inter‐regional trends of visual loss in most developing countries remain largely unknown. We compared the causes of childhood blindness among children attending blind schools in the northern (one school) and southern (two schools) regions of Ghana and assessed their need for spectacles and low‐vision devices. Methods Using a standardised methodology, children were examined by an ophthalmologist and optometrists in each location. Causes of visual loss were classified anatomically and by time of onset, and avoidable causes identified. Children identified with functional low vision were assessed and provided with low‐vision devices. Results A total of 252 children under 16 years of age were examined in the schools. The overall prevalence of total blindness was 73 (29.0 per cent), with similar proportions (p = 0.87) in the north (29 [28.4 per cent]) and south (44 [29.3 per cent]); 92 (36.5 per cent) had functional low vision. Two children improved with spectacles and 35 benefited from low‐vision devices. Corneal scarring was significantly (p = 0.045) more prevalent in southern Ghana (n = 150) than in the north (n = 102), responsible for visual loss in 36 (24.0 per cent, 95% CI 17.2–30.8 per cent) and 14 (13.7 per cent, 95% CI 7.0–20.4 per cent) cases, respectively. No significant difference (p = 0.321) was observed in the prevalence of cataract between northern (28: 27.5 per cent, 95% CI 18.3–36.2 per cent) and southern Ghana (33: 22.0 per cent, 95% CI 15.4–28.6 per cent). Over 87 per cent of children had ‘avoidable’ causes of visual loss, with a higher proportion being treatable (124: 49.2 per cent) than preventable (96: 38 per cent). Conclusion Cataract was the major cause of visual loss in the overall population. The south had a higher proportion of corneal scarring and late‐onset blindness compared with the north. More than one‐third of blindness in blind schools in Ghana could have been prevented by primary care interventions and nearly half could have been treated surgically to prevent visual loss. Two in five children in blind schools in Ghana could benefit from optical intervention.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

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Inter‐regional trends in causes of childhood blindness and low vision in Ghana

Ilechie

Wanye

Abraham

et al. 2020

Clinical and Experimental Optometry

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“…Causes of VI such as URE, cataract and corneal scars found in this study have been reported in earlier studies in different parts of Ghana. 10,11 A slightly higher number of male participants had VI compared with female participants, and this trend is similar to other studies that reported prevalence of VI in children. 12,47 However, available evidence amongst adult populations in Africa, Asia and other developed countries reported that females account for approximately two-thirds of the number of people with blindness and/or VI.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

“…1 In Ghana, there is limited data on VI amongst children. 10,11 The consequences of VI and/or blindness in children are important public health issues with greater impact in developing http://www.avehjournal.org…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Magnitude and causes of visual impairment amongst school children in the Bono Region of Ghana

Opoku-Yamoah

Rampersad

Gcabashe

2021

African Vision and Eye Health

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Background: Information on the visual health of school children can assist in developing strategies to reduce preventable causes of visual impairment (VI) and maintain good vision.Aim: This study aimed to determine the magnitude and causes of VI amongst basic school children aged 6–16 years in the Bono Region of Ghana.Setting: The study site included five basic schools in 12 administrative districts of the Bono Region of Ghana.Methods: A multistage random sampling technique was used to enrol 645 participants from five selected public schools.Results: Overall, 1.4% of the sample had some form of VI that was worse than mild or no VI, and ocular conditions were present amongst 45.1% of the participants. Uncorrected refractive error (URE) was found amongst 9.8% of the study participants (n = 63) and was an important cause of VI. Other ocular conditions detected in the sample included allergic conjunctivitis (n = 174), cataract (n = 2) and keratoconus (n = 2). Overall, 632 (98.0%) participants recorded a visual acuity (VA) of 20/20 – 20/60, 11 (1.7%) participants had a VA of 20/60 – 20/200, 1 (0.15%) participant had a VA of 20/200 – 10/200 and 1 (0.15%) participant had a VA of 10/200.Conclusion: The presence of ocular conditions was high amongst the study participants (45.1%). However, the prevalence of VI was found to be low (1.4%) with URE being the most common cause. This study supports the need to intensify awareness of ocular conditions and/or VI in basic schools through regular vision health screening and education.

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