Factors Associated With Visual Impairment Among Individuals Reporting At Mulago Hospital Eye Clinic In Uganda.

Abstract

The study investigated visual impairment among individuals reporting at Mulago Hospital Eye Clinic in Uganda the objectives included; - Determining the prevalence of visual impairment, assessing the socio-demographic factors associated with visual impairment, and ascertaining the clinical factors associated with visual impairment among individuals. The study employed a cross-sectional study design employing quantitative data collection methods with data collected from 384 respondents. The study findings revealed that the prevalence of visual impairment among respondents undergoing visual acuity testing has implications for screening practices, healthcare resource allocation, quality consideration, and public health interventions aimed at addressing visual health issues within the studied population. The findings related to smoking and alcohol consumption highlight health behavior patterns among the respondents. The high proportion of respondents who reported not smoking or consuming alcohol may suggest healthier lifestyle choices, which could positively impact overall health, including eye health. The type of fuel used for cooking also shows a significant association with visual impairment. This finding may be linked to indoor air pollution resulting from the combustion of certain fuels, which can contribute to eye health issues such as irritation, dryness, or exacerbation of existing eye conditions The study drew the following conclusions that visual impairment was high among the older individuals (>54 years) compared to the younger individuals (18-25 years). Using kerosene as the main source of fuel for cooking was found to have a positive association with visual impairment. The study recommended that; - the government of Uganda should focus on effective, efficient, comprehensive eye healthcare services by integrating them with the national health system to prevent avoidable visual impairment among patients. The risk factor analysis demonstrated that drinking alcohol and having certain chronic diseases rendered an individual more likely to suffer from the onset of visual impairment, which suggests that changes in lifestyle and behaviors and the aggressive prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of systemic diseases are likely to reduce the burden of visual impairment.

Keywords: Visual Impairment; Socio-Demographic Factors; Clinical Factors