Prevalence of Ocular Disorders among Pediatric Patients in Kano State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Ocular disorders refer to the anatomical and physiological deviation of the eye from its normal appearance.

Aim: This is a retrospective  study carried out to determine the prevalence of ocular disorder among pediatric patients that attended Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Murtala  Muhammad Specialist Hospital and Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital in Kano state, Nigeria.

Methods: This study was conducted using purposive  sampling on 369 persons clinical records aged 0-15 years over a 2 year period (2018 – 2020).Clinical records of patients, data record form, case notes and  pen were used as research materials. Data was collected from clinic register regarding Age, Gender, and Ocular disorder diagnosed. Patients were  grouped according to age range: preschool age (0-5 years), school age (6-10 years) and older age (11-15 years). Collected data were stored and analysed  using SPSS software version 20 and analyses of variables tested in the chi-square with a P value less than 0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results:  The ocular prevalence of 59.7% was found.The prevalence of ocular disorders was more in males 212 (57.5%) than in females 157 (42.5%). The major causes of ocular disorders were ocular trauma 87 (23.6%), refractive errors 81 (22.0%) and allergic conjunctivitis 52 (14.1%). Allergic conjunctivitis was  more prevalent in 0-5 years.

Conclusion: The findings established that ocular trauma, refractive errors and allergic conjunctivitis were the commonest  causes of ocular disorders. We therefore suggest appropriate school eye health education, community enlightenment and compulsory pre-school comprehensive eye examination to identify and intervene in prevention of childhood eye disorders in Kano State.