Glaucoma awareness among clients present at the outpatient department of Intermediate hospital, Oshakati, Northern Namibia
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Date
2010
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Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is the major cause of irreversible blindness worldwide among black people. Early detection and treatment can prevent blindness, a consequence of glaucoma. Individuals need to be aware of glaucoma and seek assessment regularly for early detection and diagnosis of the disease. Awareness of glaucoma has not been previously documented in a Namibian setting. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the awareness of glaucoma that clients have who attended the out patient department (OPD) at the Intermediate Hospital Oshakati (IHO), Northern Namibia. Objectives of the study were to explore and describe the awareness of clients regarding glaucoma attending the OPD of IHO and to identify specific awareness raising strategies on glaucoma as a means to prevent glaucoma visual impairments. The study was conducted in November 2010 at the OPD of the said hospital. The research tool was an interview guide which was administered to 400 respondents between the ages of 40-70 years who attended the OPD. Face to face interview was used and interview guide's data included sociodemographics of the respondents, their awareness and knowledge about glaucoma and the usefulness of effective communication strategies and awareness raising of the disease. Sixty percent (60.0) of respondents were female and 40.0of respondents were male; 64.8of respondents were unemployed, 22.3were employed and 13.0 were retired. In terms education levels 44.5 completed primary school, 15.0 of respondents did not complete primary education, 22.0 completed secondary school, 13.8 did not attend any formal school and only 4.5 completed an undergraduate degree. The majority of respondents (99.0) were aware that glaucoma is a blinding eye condition. None of the respondents knew that glaucoma is a common eye condition in which fluid pressure inside the eye rises because of slow fluid drainage from the eye. Awareness of glaucoma was independent of age, gender, employment status and educational status. Age and positive family history were mostly identified by respondents as the greatest risk factor for glaucoma. An overwhelming majority of respondents (99.3) were aware that information, education and communication (IEC) materials are useful in increasing knowledge of glaucoma; all of them believed that effective health communication is the best strategy to raise glaucoma awareness. The majority of people are aware that glaucoma is a blinding condition but cannot describe the condition or mention any associated risk factors thus glaucoma knowledge in this study population is very low. There is a need to adequately inform and educate people about their health, especially eye health. An efficient IEC and population screening strategy needs to be designed to increase the community's knowledge about glaucoma so that early diagnosis and treatment of individuals with glaucoma may be possible
Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is the major cause of irreversible blindness worldwide among black people. Early detection and treatment can prevent blindness, a consequence of glaucoma. Individuals need to be aware of glaucoma and seek assessment regularly for early detection and diagnosis of the disease. Awareness of glaucoma has not been previously documented in a Namibian setting. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the awareness of glaucoma that clients have who attended the out patient department (OPD) at the Intermediate Hospital Oshakati (IHO), Northern Namibia. Objectives of the study were to explore and describe the awareness of clients regarding glaucoma attending the OPD of IHO and to identify specific awareness raising strategies on glaucoma as a means to prevent glaucoma visual impairments. The study was conducted in November 2010 at the OPD of the said hospital. The research tool was an interview guide which was administered to 400 respondents between the ages of 40-70 years who attended the OPD. Face to face interview was used and interview guide's data included sociodemographics of the respondents, their awareness and knowledge about glaucoma and the usefulness of effective communication strategies and awareness raising of the disease. Sixty percent (60.0) of respondents were female and 40.0of respondents were male; 64.8of respondents were unemployed, 22.3were employed and 13.0 were retired. In terms education levels 44.5 completed primary school, 15.0 of respondents did not complete primary education, 22.0 completed secondary school, 13.8 did not attend any formal school and only 4.5 completed an undergraduate degree. The majority of respondents (99.0) were aware that glaucoma is a blinding eye condition. None of the respondents knew that glaucoma is a common eye condition in which fluid pressure inside the eye rises because of slow fluid drainage from the eye. Awareness of glaucoma was independent of age, gender, employment status and educational status. Age and positive family history were mostly identified by respondents as the greatest risk factor for glaucoma. An overwhelming majority of respondents (99.3) were aware that information, education and communication (IEC) materials are useful in increasing knowledge of glaucoma; all of them believed that effective health communication is the best strategy to raise glaucoma awareness. The majority of people are aware that glaucoma is a blinding condition but cannot describe the condition or mention any associated risk factors thus glaucoma knowledge in this study population is very low. There is a need to adequately inform and educate people about their health, especially eye health. An efficient IEC and population screening strategy needs to be designed to increase the community's knowledge about glaucoma so that early diagnosis and treatment of individuals with glaucoma may be possible
Description
A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Public Health
Keywords
Glaucoma, Eye Diseases