Public Health Nursing Department, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
Geriatric Hub NGO, Madina, Accra, Ghana.
BMC Ophthalmol. 2024 Oct 4;24(1):434. doi: 10.1186/s12886-024-03701-5.
Cataract is a leading cause of visual impairment and blindness, mainly affecting older adults in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This scoping review aims to map evidence on the prevalence, contextual factors, and management strategies for cataracts among older adults in SSA.
Four central databases (PubMed, Scopus, Medline, and Google Scholar) were searched, yielding 383 records. Additional searches produced eight records. After screening and applying inclusion criteria, 26 full-text articles were eligible for further review. Finally, seven full-text records were included in the thematic analysis and synthesis.
Cataract prevalence among older adults in SSA ranged from 13.5-62.5% across different countries. Surgery remains the primary management strategy, but cataract surgical coverage varies widely (12.1-96%). Significant barriers to effective management include lack of awareness, limited access to healthcare, economic constraints, gender disparities, and cultural misconceptions about cataract surgery.
There is a significant burden of cataracts among older adults in SSA, with considerable variations in prevalence and surgical coverage across the region. Comprehensive strategies addressing awareness, accessibility, affordability, and cultural factors are needed to improve cataract management and reduce visual impairment in SSA.
白内障是视力损害和失明的主要原因，主要影响撒哈拉以南非洲（SSA）的老年人。本范围综述旨在绘制 SSA 中老年人白内障患病率、背景因素和管理策略的证据图。
在四个中心数据库（PubMed、Scopus、Medline 和 Google Scholar）中进行了搜索，共产生了 383 条记录。额外的搜索产生了 8 条记录。经过筛选和应用纳入标准，26 篇全文文章符合进一步审查的条件。最后，有 7 篇全文记录纳入了主题分析和综合。
在不同国家，SSA 中老年人白内障的患病率在 13.5-62.5%之间。手术仍然是主要的治疗策略，但白内障手术的覆盖率差异很大（12.1-96%）。有效管理的主要障碍包括缺乏意识、获得医疗保健的机会有限、经济限制、性别差距以及对白内障手术的文化误解。
SSA 中老年人白内障的负担很大，该地区白内障的患病率和手术覆盖率存在很大差异。需要综合策略来解决意识、可及性、可负担性和文化因素，以改善白内障管理并减少 SSA 的视力损害。
