Br J Ophthalmol 2001;85:776-780 ( July )

World view

Cataract blindness and barriers to uptake of cataract surgery in a rural community of northern Nigeria Mansur M Rabiu

The National Eye Centre Kaduna, Nigeria

Correspondence to: Department of Clinical Ophthalmology, National Eye Centre, PMB 2267, Kaduna, Nigeria mrabiu{at}hotmail.com

Accepted for publication 10 January 2001

AIMSA population based cross sectional survey was conducted to determine the magnitude of cataract blindness and the barriers to uptake of cataract services in a rural community of northern Nigeria.
METHODS1461 people out of 1924 registered eligible people were examined. The study population was chosen by two stage cluster random sampling. In the first sampling stage 15 villages were randomly chosen while in the final stage 170 people who were 40 years and over were selected in each village. Each selected person had visual acuity recorded for both eyes. Those with vision of less than 3/60 in the better eye were assessed for cataract. People with cataract were asked why they had not sought medical attention.
RESULTSA blindness prevalence of 8.2% (95% CI 5.8%-10.5%) was found among the sampled population. Cataract was responsible for 44.2% of the blindness. Thus, a cataract blindness prevalence of 3.6% was found. The cataract surgical coverage (people) was 4.0% and the couching coverage (people) was 18%. The main barrier to seeking cataract surgery was cost of the service (61%).
CONCLUSIONSome regions of the world still have high burden of cataract blindness that needs attention. Such areas need an effective free cataract outreach programme.

---

© 2001 by British Journal of Ophthalmology
CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Kyari, F., Gudlavalleti, M. V. S., Sivsubramaniam, S., Gilbert, C. E., Abdull, M. M., Entekume, G., Foster, A., the Nigeria National Blindness and Visual Impairme, (2009). Prevalence of Blindness and Visual Impairment in Nigeria: The National Blindness and Visual Impairment Survey. IOVS 50: 2033-2039 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Lewallen, S, Mousa, A, Bassett, K, Courtright, P (2009). Cataract surgical coverage remains lower in women. Br. J. Ophthalmol. 93: 295-298 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Jadoon, Z, Shah, S P, Bourne, R, Dineen, B, Khan, M A, Gilbert, C E, Foster, A, Khan, M D, on behalf of the Pakistan National Eye Survey Stud, (2007). Cataract prevalence, cataract surgical coverage and barriers to uptake of cataract surgical services in Pakistan: the Pakistan National Blindness and Visual Impairment Survey. Br. J. Ophthalmol. 91: 1269-1273 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Hubley, J, Gilbert, C (2006). Eye health promotion and the prevention of blindness in developing countries: critical issues.. Br. J. Ophthalmol. 90: 279-284 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Anjum, K M, Qureshi, M B, Khan, M A, Jan, N, Ali, A, Ahmad, K, Khan, M D (2006). Cataract blindness and visual outcome of cataract surgery in a tribal area in Pakistan. Br. J. Ophthalmol. 90: 135-138 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Wong, T Y (2005). Cataract surgery programmes in Africa. Br. J. Ophthalmol. 89: 1231-1232 [Full Text]  
• Mpyet, C, Dineen, B P, Solomon, A W (2005). Cataract surgical coverage and barriers to uptake of cataract surgery in leprosy villages of north eastern Nigeria. Br. J. Ophthalmol. 89: 936-938 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Shrestha, M K, Thakur, J, Gurung, C K, Joshi, A B, Pokhrel, S, Ruit, S (2004). Willingness to pay for cataract surgery in Kathmandu valley. Br. J. Ophthalmol. 88: 319-320 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Munoz, B, West, S K (2002). Blindness and visual impairment in the Americas and the Caribbean. Br. J. Ophthalmol. 86: 498-504 [Abstract] [Full Text]