Muhammad Nasiru, Maishanu Nuhu M, Jabo Aliyu M, Rabiu Mansur M
Ophthalmology Department, Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital, Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria.
Middle East Afr J Ophthalmol. 2010 Oct;17(4):330-4. doi: 10.4103/0974-9233.71601.
To identify children with irreversible blindness in a district of northern Nigeria for enrolment into an inclusive education pilot project.
Using key informants (KIs) working and residing within the communities, children with blindness and visual impairment in Gwadabawa local government area (LGA) were identified and then examined by a team of ophthalmologists/optometrists. Data analysis was performed manually using simple percentages and proportions.
Sixty children were reported with visual problems by parents/guardians of whom 58 (97%) were examined. Twenty children (35%) were blind, 17 (29%) were irreversibly blind, and 9 (16%) had low vision (<6/18 to 3/60) with presenting vision. The major causes of childhood blindness were corneal opacity/phthisis bulbi (75%), and cataract (15%). The cause of irreversible blindness in these children was largely preventable (80%) as it was due to childhood-related illnesses, such as vitamin A deficiency and measles.
The major causes of childhood blindness in the study area were avoidable and the use of KI survey in this study provided an opportunity for service delivery.
在尼日利亚北部某地区识别不可逆失明儿童，以便将其纳入全纳教育试点项目。
利用在社区工作和居住的关键信息提供者（KIs），识别瓜达巴瓦地方政府辖区（LGA）内失明和视力受损儿童，然后由一组眼科医生/验光师进行检查。使用简单百分比和比例进行手动数据分析。
家长/监护人报告有视力问题的儿童有60名，其中58名（97%）接受了检查。20名儿童（35%）失明，17名（29%）不可逆失明，9名（16%）视力低下（<6/18至3/60）。儿童失明的主要原因是角膜混浊/眼球痨（75%）和白内障（15%）。这些儿童不可逆失明的原因在很大程度上是可以预防的（80%），因为这是由与儿童期相关的疾病引起的，如维生素A缺乏症和麻疹。
研究地区儿童失明的主要原因是可以避免的，本研究中使用关键信息提供者调查为提供服务创造了机会。
