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. 2019 Aug 26;26(2):101-106.
doi: 10.4103/meajo.MEAJO_113_17. eCollection 2019 Apr-Jun.

Impact of a 10-Year Eye Care Program in Sokoto, Nigeria: Changing Pattern of Prevalence and Causes of Blindness and Visual Impairment

Nasiru Muhammad  1 , Mohammed D Adamu  1 , Caleb Mpyet  2   3   4 , Catey Bounce  5 , Nuhu M Maishanu  6 , Aliyu M Jabo  7 , Muhammad M Rabiu  8 , Covadonga Bascaran  9 , Sunday Isiyaku  3 , Allen Foster  9
Affiliations

Impact of a 10-Year Eye Care Program in Sokoto, Nigeria: Changing Pattern of Prevalence and Causes of Blindness and Visual Impairment

Nasiru Muhammad et al. Middle East Afr J Ophthalmol. .

Abstract

Background: This study was undertaken to ascertain the current magnitude and causes of blindness and visual impairment in persons aged 50 years and over and to assess the impact of a 10-year eye care program in Sokoto State, Nigeria.

Methods: A rapid assessment of avoidable blindness (RAAB) survey (in persons 50 years and over) was conducted in 2016. Participants were selected in Wurno health zone using a two-stage cluster randomized sampling with probability proportional to size. Operational definitions were based on RAAB and World Health Organization eye examination record definitions. Eye care program documents were reviewed and data from a baseline survey undertaken in 2005 were reanalyzed.

Results: A response of 89.1% (2405 of 2700 participants) was obtained in the 2016 survey. With available correction, the unadjusted prevalence of blindness was 7.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.4, 8.9). The odds of blindness were 1.8 times higher in females than males (95% CI: 1.3, 2.4; P < 0.001). Major causes of blindness were cataract (48.9%) corneal disease (20.1%), glaucoma (10.3%), and uncorrected refractive error/aphakia (8.7%). The age- and sex-adjusted prevalence of blindness has declined from 11.6% (95% CI: 7.4, 17.0) in 2005 to 6.8% (95% CI: 5.6, 8.0%) in 2016.

Conclusion: The blindness prevalence is high, and the major causes are avoidable in the health zone. The findings suggest that investments in the program over the last 10 years might have led to almost a halving in the prevalence of blindness in th e population. However, the small sample size of persons 50+ years from Wurno zone in the 2005 survey necessitate caution when comparing the 2005 and the 2016 surveys.

Keywords: Avoidable blindness; eye care; impact; rapid assessment of avoidable blindness.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Age group distribution of the target population and study sample, Wurno health zone 2016
Figure 2
Figure 2
Distribution of the prevalence of visual impairment;Wurno health zone, 2005 and 2016
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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References

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    1. Sightsavers International Kaduna Nigeria. Sokoto State Eye Care programme Project Document 2005 – 2009. Sightsavers International Kaduna Nigeria. 2005:48.
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