Prevalence and Pattern of Ocular Morbidity in a Rural Population of Hebbal, Kalaburgi Disrict : A Community Based Cross Sectional Study

Shahnaz Shaheen; Deepak Jamadar

Volume : VIII, Issue : IV, April - 2018

Prevalence and Pattern of Ocular Morbidity in a Rural Population of Hebbal, Kalaburgi Disrict : A Community Based Cross Sectional Study

Shahnaz Shaheen, Deepak Jamadar

Abstract :

Blindness and vision impairment are major public health problem causing a substantial human and economic toll on individuals and society includingsignificant suffering, disability, and diminished quality of life formillions of people. Ocular morbidity is one of the major public health problem in Indiaaffecting not only the quality of life, but also has impact on educational and employmentopportunities. The lack of community based studies on ocular morbidity, especially in rural areas is one of reason for inadequate focus on the subject. Studies showing the prevalence and pattern of ocular morbidity are needed to build better infrastructure of eye–care facilities.Method: A Cross–sectional study was carried out in the rural field practice area ofdepartment of Community Medicine, Hebbal from January 2014 to June 2015. The studypopulation included 3625 residents from rural field practice area, Hebbal. The datawas collected using pre–tested proforma and was analyzed using percentages and Chi–Square test to test the statistical significance at (p<0.05).Results: The prevalence of ocular morbidities in this study was found to be 15.09%.Refractive errors were the most common ocular morbid conditions responsible for53.75% of total ocular morbidities. Ocular morbidities were statisticallyassociated with increasing age, illiteracy, occupation, socio–economic status and solidfuel used for cooking.Conclusion: In most of the study subjects ocular morbidities were either preventableor treatable. But due to ignorance and carelessness of being not attended to, theycause impairment of vision or even blindness.