Dataset Information

Utilisation of eye health services and compliance with spectacles wear among community school adolescents: a mixed-methods study from Bagmati province of Nepal.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

This study aims to determine the factors influencing eye care service utilisation and compliance with spectacles wear among school students.

Design

Mixed-methods study.

Setting

27 community schools from 6 districts of Bagmati province of Nepal.

Participants

Adolescents with mild vision impairment who were screened at schools by their trained peers for visual acuity measurement and subsequently received subsidised spectacles for refractive error correction. For the quantitative study, 317 students from 21 schools completed the survey. For qualitative study, 62 students from 6 schools participated in 6 focus group discussions.

Primary outcome measures

Utilisation of eye care services and compliance with spectacles wear.

Results

Among 317 students, 53.31% were aged 15-19, and 35.96% were male. More than half (52.68%, n=167) did not use eye health services. Among students who did not go, 51.50% reported eye health facilities being far away. Thematic analysis showed that distance, COVID-19 and awareness were influential in the utilisation of eye care. The multivariate analysis showed urban residents were likelier (adjusted OR (AOR) 4.347, 95% CI 2.399 to 7.877, p<0.001) to use eye care services. During an unannounced visit to schools after 3-4 months of spectacles distribution, 188 (59.31%) students were wearing spectacles. 20.16% of students not wearing spectacles reported they did not feel the need. Thematic analysis showed the influence of family and peers, affordability, aesthetic appearance, comfortability and symptomatic relief in spectacles compliance. The multivariate analysis showed that urban residents (AOR 2.552, 95% CI 1.469 to 4.433, p<0.001), older adolescents (AOR 1.758, 95% CI 1.086 to 2.848, p=0.022), mothers with paid jobs (AOR 2.440, 95% CI 1.162 to 5.125, p=0.018) and students visiting eye care centres (AOR 1.662, 95% CI 1.006 to 2.746, p=0.047) were more likely to be compliant with spectacles wear.

Conclusions

There are multiple barriers for students to use eye care services and stay compliant with spectacles wear. Eye health programmes should include eye health promotion and be accessible, affordable and equitable.

SUBMITTER: Khatri B

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11331929 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Utilisation of eye health services and compliance with spectacles wear among community school adolescents: a mixed-methods study from Bagmati province of Nepal.

Khatri Bijay B Shrestha Rajan R Suwal Rinkal R Kayastha Manish M Sharma Samata S Khadka Deepak D Upadhyay Madan Prasad MP

BMJ open 20240813 8

<h4>Objectives</h4>This study aims to determine the factors influencing eye care service utilisation and compliance with spectacles wear among school students.<h4>Design</h4>Mixed-methods study.<h4>Setting</h4>27 community schools from 6 districts of Bagmati province of Nepal.<h4>Participants</h4>Adolescents with mild vision impairment who were screened at schools by their trained peers for visual acuity measurement and subsequently received subsidised spectacles for refractive error correction. ...[more]

PMID: 39142684

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Dataset Information

Utilisation of eye health services and compliance with spectacles wear among community school adolescents: a mixed-methods study from Bagmati province of Nepal.

Objectives

Design

Setting

Participants

Primary outcome measures

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Utilisation of eye health services and compliance with spectacles wear among community school adolescents: a mixed-methods study from Bagmati province of Nepal.

Similar Datasets

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