Browsing by Author "Muluken Goshime"
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Item Prevalence of Ocular Comorbidity among Students with Hearing Impairment(Addis Ababa University, 2023-09-23) Muluken Goshime; Dereje NegussieObjective: To assess the magnitude of ocular comorbidity among hearing impaired students in Hosanna Boarding School for Hearing Impaired. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Hossana Boarding School for Hearing Impaired. The study took place from April 1 to May 3, 2023. Socio-demographic information, ocular complaints, co-morbidity details, and previous ophthalmic service utilization were collected through semi-structured questionnaires with the assistance of a sign language interpreter. A comprehensive ophthalmic examination was conducted. Cycloplegic refraction was performed for visually impaired students under the age of 10 while those 10 and above years of age underwent auto-refraction. Subjective refraction was performed. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 26.0. Results: A total of 218 hearing impaired students were included in the study, 50% being female. Their ages ranged from 7 to 25 years. Ocular comorbidity was observed in 43 (19.7%) students, while visual impairment was found in 22 (10.1%) students. Only 2.3% of the students had prior ophthalmic service utilization. Out of the 13 students with refractive error, only one student wore spectacles, which accounted for spectacle correction coverage of 7.7%. There was no ocular screening conducted before enrollment for any of the students. Conclusions: prevalence of ocular comorbidity and visual impairment was higher among hearing impaired students. Implementing regular screening programs, raising awareness, improving accessibility to eye care services, and fostering collaboration among relevant stakeholders can contribute to better eye health outcomes for hearing-impaired students. Key Words: Ocular Comorbidity, Visual Impairment, Hearing Impairment, Refractive Error, Ethiopia