Kalua K, Patel D, Muhit M, Courtright P
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi.
Eye (Lond). 2009 Jan;23(1):7-9. doi: 10.1038/eye.2008.49. Epub 2008 Mar 14.
To determine the productivity of village-based 'key informants' (KIs) in identifying blind children.
Ngabu subdistrict (population 101,000) of Chikwawa district was divided into KI catchment areas. KIs, selected by local village leaders, were trained to register children reported to be blind or with severe visual impairment. These children were clinically assessed at designated centres.
In total, 44 KIs were selected and trained to cover 196 villages in Ngabu. They identified and referred 151 children, 37 of whom were blind (presenting vision <3/60 best eye). Overall, village leaders tended to choose female KIs (80%) compared to male KIs (20%); however, male KIs tended to be more productive, identifying 4.22 children each (compared to 3.23 for female KIs). Male KIs were 2.7 times more likely to identify blind children compared to female KIs. Only 25% of all identified blind children of school going age were in school.
KIs may be effective in identifying blind children in the community; however, additional work is needed to determine who will be the most effective KI in a community and whether gender roles will limit interpretation of findings from KIs activities.
确定村级“关键信息提供者”（KIs）识别盲童的工作效率。
奇夸瓦区的恩加布分区（人口101,000）被划分为关键信息提供者的工作区域。由当地村长挑选出的关键信息提供者接受培训，负责登记报告为失明或有严重视力障碍的儿童。这些儿童在指定中心接受临床评估。
总共挑选并培训了44名关键信息提供者，覆盖恩加布的196个村庄。他们识别并转诊了151名儿童，其中37名失明（最佳矫正视力<3/60）。总体而言，与男性关键信息提供者（20%）相比，村长倾向于选择女性关键信息提供者（80%）；然而，男性关键信息提供者的工作效率往往更高，每人识别4.22名儿童（女性关键信息提供者为3.23名）。与女性关键信息提供者相比，男性关键信息提供者识别盲童的可能性高出2.7倍。所有已识别的适龄上学盲童中只有25%在上学。
关键信息提供者在识别社区中的盲童方面可能是有效的；然而，需要开展更多工作来确定谁将是社区中最有效的关键信息提供者，以及性别角色是否会限制对关键信息提供者活动结果的解读。
