Allen Foster Community Eye Health Research Centre, International Centre for Advancement of Rural Eye care, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India.
PLoS One. 2013;8(2):e55924. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0055924. Epub 2013 Feb 7.
To assess the prevalence and causes of visual impairment in weaving communities in Prakasam district in South India state of Andhra Pradesh.
Using Rapid Assessment of Visual Impairment (RAVI) methodology, a population based cross-sectional study was conducted. A two-stage sampling strategy was used to select 3000 participants aged ≥40 years. Visual Acuity (VA) was assessed using a tumbling E chart and ocular examinations were performed by trained Para medical ophthalmic personnel. A questionnaire was used to collect personal and demographic information. Blindness and moderate Visual Impairment (VI) was defined as presenting VA <6/60 and <6/18 to 6/60 respectively. VI included blindness and moderate VI.
2848 of 3000 enumerated subjects (94.0%) participated. 39% were in 40-49 years age group and 11.8% were aged ≥70 years, 55% were women and nearly half of them had no formal education. 400 (14%; 95% CI: 12.8-15.3) subjects had VI, including blindness in 131 (4.6%; 95% CI: 3.8-5.4) and moderate VI in 269 (9.4%; 95% CI: 8.3-10.5) individuals. On applying multiple logistic regression, VI was significantly associated with older age and no formal education. Though the odds of having VI were higher in females, it was of borderline statistical significance (p = 0.06). Refractive error was the leading cause of all VI followed by cataract (56%). However, refractive errors were the leading cause of moderate VI (73.2%) and cataract was the leading cause of blindness (62.6%). 'Cannot afford the cost of services' was the leading barrier for utilization of eye care services (47%).
There is a significant burden of VI in weaving communities in Andhra Pradesh, India most of which is avoidable. With this information as baseline, services need to be streamlined to address this burden.
评估印度安得拉邦普拉卡萨姆区纺织社区视力障碍的患病率和原因。
采用快速视力评估（RAVI）方法，进行了一项基于人群的横断面研究。采用两阶段抽样策略，选择了 3000 名年龄≥40 岁的参与者。使用翻转 E 图表评估视力，由经过培训的辅助医疗眼科人员进行眼部检查。使用问卷收集个人和人口统计学信息。失明和中度视力障碍（VI）定义为当前视力<6/60 和<6/18 至 6/60。VI 包括失明和中度 VI。
在 3000 名被列举的受试者中，有 2848 名（94.0%）参与了研究。39%的参与者年龄在 40-49 岁之间，11.8%的参与者年龄≥70 岁，55%的参与者为女性，近一半的人没有接受过正规教育。400 名（14%；95%置信区间：12.8-15.3）受试者患有 VI，其中 131 名（4.6%；95%置信区间：3.8-5.4）为失明，269 名（9.4%；95%置信区间：8.3-10.5）为中度 VI。应用多因素逻辑回归分析，VI 与年龄较大和未接受正规教育显著相关。虽然女性患 VI 的几率较高，但具有边缘统计学意义（p=0.06）。屈光不正为所有 VI 的主要原因，其次是白内障（56%）。然而，屈光不正为中度 VI 的主要原因（73.2%），白内障为失明的主要原因（62.6%）。“无法负担服务费用”是利用眼科保健服务的主要障碍（47%）。
印度安得拉邦纺织社区 VI 负担沉重，其中大部分是可以避免的。有了这个信息作为基线，需要调整服务以应对这一负担。
