Nwachukwu N Z, Adeniyi D B, Amu N B, Nwachukwu D C, Chuka-Okosa C M
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria.
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Nigeria.
Niger J Clin Pract. 2023 Feb;26(2):177-186. doi: 10.4103/njcp.njcp_374_22.
Globally, uncorrected refractive errors have been identified as the most common cause of visual impairment and the second leading cause of treatable blindness.
This study quantitatively and qualitatively assessed individual perception and self-care practice of refractive error (RE) in a rural community in Enugu State.
A descriptive, cross-sectional, population-based survey was done in Amorji community, Enugu State. A pretested, researcher-administered questionnaire was used to interview the respondents on knowledge of causes, features and treatment of RE, their self-care practices, and attitudes toward RE. Focus group discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews (IDIs) were also carried out to qualitatively assess these parameters. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.
A total of 522 adults, 307 (58.8%) males, and 215 (41.2%) females aged 43 ± 31.6 (range 18-83) years participated in the study. Of the participants, 235 (45.0%) had good knowledge of RE; 272 (52.1%) had positive attitude toward RE, while only 51 (9.8%) had good self-care practice. Educational status was significantly (p = 0.02) associated with participants' knowledge, attitude, and self-care practices. Good knowledge significantly (p = 0.001) influenced attitude and self-care practices among the participants. Results from FGDs and IDIs were in agreement with those obtained from the questionnaire-based part of the study.
The participants from Amorji community had good knowledge of the features of RE but poor knowledge of its causes and treatment. They also exhibited positive attitude, but poor self-care practices toward refractive errors.
在全球范围内，未矫正的屈光不正已被确定为视力损害的最常见原因和可治疗性失明的第二大主要原因。
本研究对埃努古州一个农村社区居民对屈光不正（RE）的个人认知和自我护理行为进行了定量和定性评估。
在埃努古州的阿莫尔吉社区进行了一项描述性、横断面、基于人群的调查。使用经过预测试、由研究人员管理的问卷，就屈光不正的病因、特征和治疗知识、自我护理行为以及对屈光不正的态度对受访者进行访谈。还开展了焦点小组讨论（FGD）和深入访谈（IDI）以对这些参数进行定性评估。使用SPSS 20版软件对数据进行分析。
共有522名成年人参与了该研究，年龄为43±31.6岁（范围18 - 83岁），其中男性307名（58.8%），女性215名（41.2%）。在参与者中，235名（45.0%）对屈光不正有良好认知；272名（52.1%）对屈光不正持积极态度，而只有51名（9.8%）有良好的自我护理行为。教育程度与参与者的知识、态度和自我护理行为显著相关（p = 0.02）。良好的知识对参与者的态度和自我护理行为有显著影响（p = 0.001）。焦点小组讨论和深入访谈的结果与基于问卷部分的研究结果一致。
阿莫尔吉社区的参与者对屈光不正的特征有良好认知，但对其病因和治疗了解不足。他们对屈光不正也表现出积极态度，但自我护理行为较差。
