Changes in blindness prevalence over 16 years in Malawi: reduced prevalence but increased numbers of blind.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND/AIMS:In the coming two decades significant increases in the burden of blindness are anticipated unless concerted efforts are made to improve eye care in developing countries. Evidence of changing prevalence rates or numbers of blind people are few. The change in blindness prevalence and the number of blind people in an adult population of Malawi was measured over a 16 year period. METHODS:In 1999 a population based survey of blindness in adults (age 50+) was conducted in Chikwawa district of Malawi. Visual acuity and cause of vision loss were recorded for each eye independently. Blindness was defined as presenting better eye vision of <6/60. Findings from a 1983 survey of blindness in the same district (using similar methods) were re-analysed to be comparable with the survey con

SUBMITTER: Courtright P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1771870 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature