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Multicenter Study
. 2003 May;87(5):526-30.
doi: 10.1136/bjo.87.5.526.

Causes of severe visual impairment and blindness in children in schools for the blind in Ethiopia

A B Kello  1 , C Gilbert
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Causes of severe visual impairment and blindness in children in schools for the blind in Ethiopia

A B Kello et al. Br J Ophthalmol. 2003 May.

Abstract

Aims: To determine the causes of severe visual impairment and blindness in children in schools for the blind in Ethiopia, to aid in planning for the prevention and management of avoidable causes.

Methods: Children attending three schools for the blind in Ethiopia were examined during April and May 2001 using the standard WHO/PBL eye examination record for children with blindness and low vision protocol. Data were analysed for those children aged less than 16 years using the EPI-INFO-6 programme.

Results: Among 360 pupils examined, 312 (96.7%) were aged <16 years. Of these children, 295 (94.5%) were blind or severely visually impaired. The major anatomical site of visual loss was cornea/phthisis (62.4%), followed by optic nerve lesions (9.8%), cataract/aphakia (9.2%), and lesions of the uvea (8.8%). The major aetiology was childhood factors (49.8%). The aetiology was unknown in 45.1% of cases. 68% of cases were considered to be potentially avoidable.

Conclusions: Vitamin A deficiency and measles were the major causes of severe visual impairment/blindness in children in schools for the blind in Ethiopia. The majority of causes acquired during childhood could be avoided through provision of basic primary healthcare services.

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References

    1. World Health Organization. Preventing blindness in children. Report of a WHO/IAPB scientific meeting. WHO/PBL/00.77. Geneva: WHO, 2000.
    1. Gilbert CE, Anderton L, Dandona L, et al. Prevalence of blindness and visual impairment in children—a review of available data. Ophthalmic Epidemiol 1999;6:73–81. - PubMed
    1. World Health Organization. Global initiative for the elimination of avoidable blindness. WHO/PBL/97.61. Geneva: WHO, 1997.
    1. Gilbert C. New issues in childhood blindness. J Commun Eye Health 2001;14:53–6. - PMC - PubMed
    1. United Nations Children’s Fund. The state of world’s children 2001: early childhood. New York: UNICEF.

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