Krishnaiah Sannapaneni, Kovai Vilas, Srinivas Marmamula, Shamanna Bindiganavale R, Rao Gullapalli N, Thomas Ravi
International Centre for Advancement of Rural Eye Care, L. V. Prasad Eye Institute, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad - 500 034, India.
Indian J Ophthalmol. 2005 Sep;53(3):205-8. doi: 10.4103/0301-4738.16685.
To explore the awareness of glaucoma amongst the rural population of Andhra Pradesh, India.
A total of 7775 subjects of all ages, representative of the rural population of Andhra Pradesh, participated in the Andhra Pradesh Eye Disease Study. The responses of subjects older than 15 years (n=5573) who completed a structured questionnaire regarding awareness (heard of glaucoma) and knowledge (understanding of disease) of glaucoma formed the basis of this study.
Awareness of glaucoma (n=18; 0.32%) was very poor in this rural population, and females were significantly less aware (p=0.007). Awareness of glaucoma was also significantly less among illiterate persons (p<0.0001), and socially backward population (p<0.0001). Majority of the respondents who were aware of glaucoma (n=10; 55.6%) did not know if visual loss due to glaucoma was permanent or reversible. The major source of awareness of glaucoma in this population was TV/magazines and other media followed by information from a relative or acquaintance suffering from the disease.
Awareness of glaucoma is very poor in the rural areas of southern India. The data suggest the need for community-based health education programmes to increase the level of awareness and knowledge about glaucoma.
探讨印度安得拉邦农村人口对青光眼的认知情况。
共有7775名各年龄段代表安得拉邦农村人口的受试者参与了安得拉邦眼病研究。15岁以上（n = 5573）完成关于青光眼认知（听说过青光眼）和知识（对疾病的了解）的结构化问卷的受试者的回答构成了本研究的基础。
该农村人口对青光眼的认知（n = 18；0.32%）非常差，女性的认知明显更低（p = 0.007）。文盲（p < 0.0001）和社会落后人群（p < 0.0001）对青光眼的认知也明显更低。大多数知晓青光眼的受访者（n = 10；55.6%）不知道青光眼导致的视力丧失是永久性的还是可逆的。该人群中青光眼认知的主要来源是电视/杂志和其他媒体，其次是来自患有该疾病的亲属或熟人的信息。
印度南部农村地区对青光眼的认知非常差。数据表明需要开展基于社区的健康教育项目，以提高对青光眼的认知水平和知识。
