Visual screening of incercerated juvenile delinquents: a study of boys and girls remand homes, lagos state.

Abstract

Visual characteristics of fifty (36 males and 14 females) incarcerated juvenile delinquents with forty six (consisting of 34 males and 12 females) incarcerated non delinquents in the defined population were compared using the New York State Optometric Association vision screening battery (NYSOA) and the minimum school vision screening programme. A chi-square test analysis revealed significantly higher frequencies for phoria, hyperopia, pursuit and saccadic eye movement subtests in the juvenile delinquent population as compared to the control group. Further analysis revealed significantly higher frequencies for convergence, phoria, hyperopia, pursuit and saccadic eye movement subtest (P<0.05) in male offenders as compared with male control population. Also higher frequencies for visual acuity (distant and near), hyperopia, phoria, pursuit and saccadic eye movement subtest (P = 0.05) were recorded for female juvenile offenders as compared with the control females. The study suggests a link between visually related learning problems and delinquency in a Nigerian population.

Keywords: Visual acuity, Visual status, Visual skills, Stereo-acuity

Annals of Biomedical Science Vol. 2 (1) 2003: pp. 11-19