Strengthening primary eye care in South Africa: An assessment of services and prospective evaluation of a health systems support package.

ABSTRACT: Visual impairment is a significant public health concern, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where eye care is predominantly provided at the primary healthcare (PHC) level, known as primary eye care. This study aimed to perform an evaluation of primary eye care services in three districts of South Africa and to assess whether an ophthalmic health system strengthening (HSS) package could improve these services. Baseline surveys were conducted in Cape Winelands District, Johannesburg Health District and Mopani District at 14, 25 and 36 PHC facilities, respectively. Thereafter, the HSS package, comprising group training, individual mentoring, stakeholder engagement and resource provision, was implemented in 20 intervention sites in Mopani District, with the remaining 16 Mopani f

SUBMITTER: Lilian RR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5951550 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature