RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Cataract blindness and barriers to uptake of cataract surgery in a rural community of northern Nigeria
JF British Journal of Ophthalmology
JO Br J Ophthalmol
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.
SP 776
OP 780
DO 10.1136/bjo.85.7.776
VO 85
IS 7
A1 Mansur M Rabiu
YR 2001
UL http://bjo.bmj.com/content/85/7/776.abstract
AB AIMS A 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. METHODS 1461 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. RESULTS A 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%). CONCLUSION Some regions of the world still have high burden of cataract blindness that needs attention. Such areas need an effective free cataract outreach programme.