Gai Mam Jarra, Reddy Varsha, Xu Vivian, Noori Neda H, Demory Beckler Michelle
Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, USA.
College of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, East Lansing, USA.
Cureus. 2024 Jun 6;16(6):e61841. doi: 10.7759/cureus.61841. eCollection 2024 Jun.
Ensuring access to proper eye health services is not only a fundamental human right but also crucial for preserving an individual's quality of life, preventing blindness, and promoting overall well-being. This is especially true in low-income countries like Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where recognizing the intricate relationship between access to healthcare and social determinants of health (SDOH ) is crucial to addressing health disparities. The goal of this study was to elucidate and highlight not only the barriers millions face in obtaining eye care but also pave the way for interventions and policies aimed at creating equitable access across diverse populations. To do this, a scoping review was conducted across the Cumulated Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Embase, and PubMed databases for studies meeting the search terms and inclusion criteria. The results show that intervention strategies that increase vision care must extend beyond the healthcare sector to address the multifaceted challenges. Collaborating with stakeholders involved in addressing broader livelihood issues, such as food security, education, and SDOH, becomes imperative to ensure comprehensive and sustainable improvements in vision care accessibility in SSA.
确保获得适当的眼部健康服务不仅是一项基本人权，而且对于维护个人生活质量、预防失明和促进整体福祉至关重要。在撒哈拉以南非洲（SSA）等低收入国家尤其如此，在这些国家，认识到获得医疗保健与健康的社会决定因素（SDOH）之间的复杂关系对于解决健康差距至关重要。本研究的目的不仅是阐明和突出数百万人在获得眼科护理方面面临的障碍，而且为旨在为不同人群创造公平获得机会的干预措施和政策铺平道路。为此，我们对护理及相关健康文献累积索引（CINAHL）、Embase和PubMed数据库进行了广泛的文献综述，以查找符合搜索词和纳入标准的研究。结果表明，增加视力保健的干预策略必须超越医疗保健部门，以应对多方面的挑战。与参与解决更广泛生计问题（如粮食安全、教育和SDOH）的利益相关者合作，对于确保撒哈拉以南非洲地区视力保健可及性的全面和可持续改善变得至关重要。
