Knowledge and Attitude of Guardians towards Eye Health of Primary School Pupils in Ilorin, Nigeria
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Date
2010
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Nigerian Postgraduate Medical Journal
Abstract
Objective: To determine guardians’ knowledge and attitude towards pupils’ eye
health and draw implication for designing children-oriented ocular health
messages.
Methods: A survey of 1,393 guardians selected through multistage random
sampling in Ilorin, Nigeria. Using structured questionnaire, information sought
included guardians’ demographic characteristics, relationship to pupils,
occupation, awareness of eye specialists, perception of normal vision, pupils’ eye
complaints, and ways of treating children eye conditions. Data analysis was done
with SPSS 12.0.1. The test of significance was performed using Chi square test
and significance was taken at p < 0.05.
Results: Guardians comprised 689 (49.4%) males and 704 (50.6%) females, mean
age 43.61 SD 11.45. Most (88.54%) were pupils’ parents and (11.46%) were
relations (n=1,318); (55.15%) were in low-paying occupations (n=1,311);
(87.92%) were aware of eye specialists, (12.08%) unaware, (n=1192); (97.27%)
adjudged normal vision at least important, (2.73%) not important (n=1,174).
Pupils’ eye complaints (n=914) included pain (26.04%), itching (24.73%), redness
(21.12%), discharge (8.53%), blur vision (8.21%), photophobia (7.33%) and
lacrimation (4.05%). Guardians (n=1,069) managed pupils’ eye diseases using
hospital treatment (61.65%), neglect (21.33%), self medication (9.26%) and
traditional medication (7.76%). There were no significant associations between
guardians’ ways of managing pupils’ eye diseases and their views on normal
vision (p = 0.940); awareness of eye care specialists (p = 0.952); and economic
occupational grouping (p = 0.959).
Conclusion: The negative implications of neglecting eye diseases and use of self
and harmful traditional eye-medications by some of the guardians need to be
discouraged by appropriate eye health education.
Description
Keywords
children ocular health, childhood blindness, guardian health seeking habits