Prevalence of Visual Impairment and Associated Factors Among Older Adults in Southern Ethiopia, 2022

Abstract

Background

Visual impairment is a functional limitation of the eye brought on by a disorder or disease that can make it more difficult to carry out daily tasks. Visual impairment causes a wide range of public health, social, and economic issues, particularly in developing nations, where more than 90% of the world’s visually impaired people reside. Although many studies conducted in Ethiopia related with the topic, there were focused on childhood visual impairments.

Objectives

To assess the prevalence and factors associated with visual impairment among older adults.

Methodology

A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted in Arba Minch Zuria District. Systematic sampling technique was employed to select 655 adults aged 40 and above. Data were gathered through face-to-face interviews and visual acuity measurements, and SPSS version 25 was used for analysis. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with visual impairment.

Results

The overall prevalence of visual impairment was found to be 36.95% (95% CI=33.2–40.8%). Factors associated with a higher odds of visual impairment included aged 51–60 years (AOR=2.37,95%CI=1.29–4.44), aged 61 and above (AOR=8.9, 95%CI=4.86–16.3), low wealth index ((AOR=1.81, 95%CI: 1.14–3.2), divorced and widowed (AOR=4.67, 95%CI:2.77–7.86), no formal education (AOR=14.28, 95%CI: 2.82–71.46), not utilizing eyeglass (AOR=3.94, 95%CI (1.65–9.40). The most possible causes of visual impairment were found to be refractive error and cataract.

Conclusions and Recommendations

The prevalence of visual impairment among study population was relatively high, and more than three-fifths of participants had unilateral visual impairment. Age, marital status, occupation, educational status, wealth index, and not wearing of prescribed eyeglasses were significantly associated with visual impairment. Refractive error is the leading cause of visual impairment. Awareness of spectacle use and expanding cataract surgery coverage are urgently needed in this area.

Keywords:

• older adults
• eye
• visual system
• visual impairment

Data Availability

The corresponding author will provide the datasets used and/or analyzed during the current work upon reasonable request.

Ethical Approval and Consent to Participate

Ethical approval was obtained from the Arba Minch University Institutional Ethical Review Board (IRB/1221/2021). A letter of permission to undertake the study was secured from the Gamo Zone Health Department, respective woredas, and kebeles. Written consent was obtained from all the selected households and individual participants. Individuals with VI were referred to an ophthalmologist at the Arba Minch General Hospital for detailed eye examination. Individuals who had confirmed cases of cataracts were treated at the Arba Minch General Hospital during a free cataract surgery campaign held in February 2022. This study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. COVID-19 preventive measures were ensured during the data collection. Confidentiality of participants’ information was secured.

Acknowledgments

We would like to extend our gratitude to Arba Minch University, College of Medicine and Health Science, for funding this research. We express our sincere gratitude to our data collectors and supervisors. Lastly, we would like to thank Mrs. Selam, Head of ORBIS International Ethiopia, Arba Minch branch, who helped us by providing data collection tools such as Loups, pinhole, and E-Snellen charts.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the research work, including in the conception and study design. Execution, data gathering, analysis, and interpretation. Moreover, all authors gave final approval for the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Additional information

Funding

There is no funding to report.