Ocular morbidity prevalence among school-going children in rural areas of Raipur district, Chhattisgarh state, India

Session Details

Session Title: Orbis Free Paper Session

Session Date/Time: Monday 07/09/2015 | 11:30-12:45

Paper Time: 12:04

Venue: Room 4

First Author: : A.Mehra INDIA

Co Author(s): :    D. Sachdeo   D. Malewar                 

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Ocular morbidity often goes unnoticed in rural areas of developing countries.Considering the fact that one third of India's blind lose their eyesight before the age of twenty years,early detection and treatment of ocular morbidity is important among children. This is an study to estimate the prevalence of, ocular morbidity among school children of aged six and sixteen years and to take necessary steps for prevention and early management of preventable blindness.

Setting:

6 coeducational schools in 3 villages of Arang block of Raipur district,Chhattisgarh state and base hospital (Chhattisgarh Eye Hospital) in Raipur city, India.

Methods:

Cross Sectional study of school going children between the age group 6-16 years. School surveys were conducted in 6 government schools selected by random sampling,between August 2014 -January 2015.Study also included school going children from rural area presenting to the out patient of base hospital during study period.A total of 934 children had undergone visual acuity assessment by a refractionist. Detailed ophthalmic evaluation was done by the ophthalmologist,which included anterior segment evaluation by Slit lamp and fundus examination whereas patients with oculomotility and oculoplastic disorders were referred to the base hospital.

Results:

High prevalence of ocular morbidity was observed in rural area of raipur district, overall prevalence of 23.727%, Refractive error:11.34%, Vitamin A deficiency:5.567%, Ocular allergic conditions:3.31%, Blepharitis:1.17%, Congenital abnormalities:-0.53%, Traumatic eye injuries:-1.07%, Oculomotility & Oculoplastic disorders:0.32%, Corneal opacities:0.21%, Developmental cataract :0.21%,

Conclusions:

Refractive error and Vitamin A deficiency were the most common ocular disorders seen in the study. Despite of Vit A substitution included as a part of national health programme, still a higher prevalence of Vit A deficiency is seen in the rural are of Raipur district

Financial Interest:

NONE