Prevalence of visual impairment among school children in three primary schools of Sekela Woreda, Amhara regional state, north-west Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Although there are limited studies, recent data are lacking to determine the prevalence of eye problems in Ethiopia accurately and there is no scientific evidence of such study in Sekela Woreda. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of visual impairment among school children in Sekela Woreda, Ethiopia. Methods: The study design was a community-based analytical cross-sectional with a multi-stage cluster random sampling technique from September to November 2016.Visual acuity was tested using Snellen’s “E” chart while color vision was tested using Ishihara chart. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 software, and binary logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with visual impairment. Results: A total of 875 participants, 466 (53.3%) males and 409 (46.7%) females, with an age range of 8–18 years were screened for visual acuity and color vision deficiency. The prevalence of visual impairment (visual acuity ⩽ 6/12) in “either eye” was 70 (8.0%). Among these, 37 (52.9%) were males and 33 (41.1%) were females. The prevalence of low vision (visual acuity ) and blindness (visual acuity < 3/60) in “either eye” were 28 (3.2%) and 10 (1.1%), respectively. Thirty two (3.7%) had mild visual impairment . The prevalence of color vision deficiency was 36 (4.1%). Among these, 27 (3%) were males and 9 (1.1%) were females. The variables age (adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) = 1.14 (1.01–1.28) and color blindness (adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) = 3.93(1.69–9.09) were significantly associated with visual impairment. Conclusion: The prevalence of blindness and low vision in school children were higher than the national prevalence in Ethiopia. Increasing age and color defective vision were factors associated with the children’s visual impairment. The Woreda health office ought to work with responsible stakeholders to tackle the situation in early childhood.

Visual impairment and its associated factors among medical and health sciences students at the University of Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia

“…Students aged greater than 25 years of age had 1.8 times higher odds of developing visual impairment compared with their counterpart. This is in agreement with the study done on school children in Ethiopia [ 49 ], and in Pakistan [ 46 ]. The possible reason for the increase in VI with age might be as age increases, there is an increase in environmental exposure and related changes in the sensitivity of the visual pathway [ 50 ].…”

“…The possible reason for the increase in VI with age might be as age increases, there is an increase in environmental exposure and related changes in the sensitivity of the visual pathway [ 50 ]. These biological changes give rise to visual dysfunction of the eye and reduced visual acuity [ 49 ].…”

Visual impairment and refractive errors in school children in Andhra Pradesh, India

“…The present study reports a much lower estimate as compared to what has been reported in school-based studies from other Asian and African countries. [ 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 37 ] However, estimates from Nigeria and Latin America are comparable (1.26% and 2.67%). [ 38 39 ] Although it is difficult to compare these studies due to the difference in inclusion criteria, one similarity that could be found between these studies and the present study is the trend in increasing VI prevalence with age.…”

Pooled prevalence of blindness in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…In the current meta-analysis, a total of 96 101 participants were included to estimate the pooled prevalence of blindness in Ethiopia. The studies were conducted in the different parts of Ethiopia: Nationwide,7 36 Oromia Region,51 Amhara Region,16 48 49 52–60 Tigray Region,61 Southern Nation Nationalities Peoples Region (SNNPR),62–66 Gambella and Benishangul Gumuz Regions,50 Addis Ababa City Administration8 67 68 and unspecified (ie, area) school-based study 47. All of the studies were published.…”