Article Text
Abstract
Aim The aim of this study was to determine the level of awareness and knowledge of glaucoma and the proportion of people with glaucoma among participants of a 1-day urban eye outreach programme.
Methods The study was a cross-sectional survey. Data, collected by means of a structured questionnaire, included participants' demographic details, and awareness, knowledge and ocular status as regards glaucoma. Publicity for the outreach was created through the mass media (radio stations and television), churches, handbills, posters and different hospital staff. Data analysis was by Statistical Package for Social SciencesV.20.0. Associations between participants' demographic and other details were tested using Pearson's χ2 test, and a p value of <0.05 was considered significant.
Results Four hundred and seventy-eight (93.2%) of the 513 people in attendance were eligible and consented to participate. Awareness, knowledge and proportion of people with glaucoma in the study population were 65.5%, 36.8% and 14.5%, respectively. Awareness was significantly associated with attainment of some formal education, awareness of a positive family history, and having had an eye check prior to the outreach. The mass media was the most common information source. Good knowledge level was significantly associated with higher educational attainment and occupation, whereas proportion of people with glaucoma was significantly associated with increasing age.
Conclusion Improving awareness with suitable content for the target population through effective means such as the mass media may be a veritable first step in combating blindness from glaucoma.
- Glaucoma
- awareness
- knowledge
- Southeast Nigeria
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Footnotes
Contributors All the authors have read and approved the final draft of the manuscript, and satisfied the conditions for authorship. All the authors agree that this work represents their honest contribution towards the writing of this manuscript.
Competing interests None declared.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.