Barriers to Uptake of Cataract Surgery in Southern Ethiopia
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Date
2023-05-13
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: Cataract is the leading cause of avoidable blindness globally and in Africa. However, various factors limit access of cataract blind individuals to cataract surgery. This study aims to investigate the factors contributing to delayed utilization of cataract services among patients attending a free surgical eye camp in Wolaita, Southern Ethiopia.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at an outreach eye camp at Wolaita Sodo organized by HCP cure blindness from June 12 to June 17, 2023. Patients were interviewed using structured questionnaire to determine the reasons for delay in uptake of cataract surgeries. Analysis was conducted using SPSS version 26, and descriptive methods were employed in the analytical process. Results: A total of 160 study participants with operable age related cataract were recruited in the study with a mean age of 61.8 years (SD = 12.9), with a range of 40 - 90 years. Over 79% of the respondents were above 50 years of age, The male to female ratio was 1:0.86 and 19.4% of the subjects were blind bilaterally (best corrected visual acuity
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Barriers to Uptake of Cataract