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. 2017 Apr-Jun;10(2):104-110.
doi: 10.1016/j.optom.2016.06.001. Epub 2016 Jul 14.

Parents' awareness and perception of children's eye diseases in Nigeria

Jennifer A Ebeigbe  1 , Chike Martin Emedike  2
Affiliations

Parents' awareness and perception of children's eye diseases in Nigeria

Jennifer A Ebeigbe et al. J Optom. 2017 Apr-Jun.

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Purpose: Most causes of childhood blindness are treatable or preventable. Knowledge of parents' awareness and perception of eye problems is important in helping to understand parents' eye care seeking behavior. This understanding becomes necessary as early detection and intervention can be effective when done at an early age.

Method: Study was carried out in Benin City, Nigeria. Thirty-five parents aged 38-54 years with a mean age of 43(±2) years were recruited. Twenty six were females and nine males. Ten eye care practitioners aged 30-45 years with a mean age of 40 (±2) were included. Seven were males and three were females. Data was analyzed qualitatively and in percentages.

Results: Majority of parents were aware of common eye problems: Blurry vision (85.7%), measles in eye (48.5%), cataract (74.3%), conjunctivitis (48.5%), itching and redness (74.3%), crossed eyes (34.3%), strabismus (57.1%), short sightedness (48.5%) and stye or hordeolum (57.1%). Too much carbohydrate, night reading and too much TV were some of the reasons given for bad eyesight. Self medication and use of local remedies for treatment of conjunctivitis was common practice (94.3%). Chloramphenicol eyedrop was the most common drug used for any eye problem before visiting a doctor (80.0%).

Conclusion: Parents are aware of common eye diseases in children but have wrong perception of their causes. Programs to increase public awareness of causes of eye problems and harmful effects of self medication are advocated for to expose inherent dangers.

Objetivo: Muchas de las causas de la ceguera infantil son tratables o prevenibles. Conocer el grado de concienciación y percepción de los padres sobre los problemas oculares es importante para ayudar a comprender el comportamiento de los mismos en relación a la detección de problemas oculares. Esta comprensión es necesaria, ya que la detección e intervención pueden resultar efectivas cuando se realizan a una edad temprana.

Método: El estudio se llevó a cabo en Benin City, Nigeria. Se seleccionó a treinta y cinco padres con edades comprendidas entre 38 y 54 años, con una edad media de 43(±2) años, de los cuales veintiséis eran mujeres y nueve varones. Se incluyó a diez oftalmólogos con edades comprendidas entre 30 y 45 años, con una edad media de 40 (±2) años, de los cuales siete eran varones y tres mujeres. Los datos se analizaron porcentual y cualitativamente.

Resultados: La mayoría de los padres eran conscientes de los problemas oculares comunes: visión borrosa (85,7%), manifestaciones oculares de la rubeola (48,5%), cataratas (74,3%), conjuntivitis (48,5%), picazón y enrojecimiento (74,3%), bizquera (34,3%), estrabismo (57,1%), miopía (48,5%) y orzuelos (57,1%). El exceso de carbohidratos, lectura nocturna y televisión fueron algunos de los motivos aducidos para la mala visión. La auto-medicación y el uso de remedios locales para el tratamiento de la conjuntivitis constituyeron una práctica común (94,3%). Los colirios de cloramfenicol fueron los fármacos más comúnmente utilizados para cualquier problema ocular, antes de visitar al médico (80,0%).

Conclusión: Los padres son conscientes de las enfermedades oculares comunes en los niños, aunque tienen una percepción errónea de sus causas. Proponemos la realización de programas para incrementar la concienciación pública sobre las causas de los problemas oculares y los efectos dañinos de la auto-medicación, para evitar daños inherentes.

Keywords: Children; Cuidados oculares; Diseases; Enfermedades; Eyecare; Niños; Padres; Parents; Vision; Visión.

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