Comparing awareness of glaucoma before and after a campaign on glaucoma amongst staff of a District Hospital in Abuja

Abstract

Aim: To determine the proportion of staff that are aware of glaucoma following a campaign on glaucoma awareness.

Methodology: The study was a  Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) study with intervention carried out amongst staff of Asokoro District Hospital (ADH), Abuja during a 1-day  glaucoma screening outreach programme in March 2022 following a year-long campaign on glaucoma to create awareness among the staff. Data analysis was done using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 using descriptive analysis.

Results: One hundred and sixty-four staff  attended the screening exercise and consented to participate in the study. The mean age of the participants was 40.21 years with an age range of 21 to  60 years. There were 61 (37.2%) males and 103 (62.8%) females. The proportion of staff that were aware of glaucoma had increased from 58.9% to 86%.  Amongst the various cadre of staff, awareness had increased from 75.9% to 100% amongst the medical, 61.7% to 100% amongst the paramedical and  36.1% to 72% amongst the administrative staff. The proportion of staff that had been screened previously increased from 19.6% to 37.2% across the  cadres. From 27.6% to 41.3% amongst the medical staff, 15% to 36.1 % amongst the paramedical and 13.9 % to 35 .4% amongst the admin staff.  

Conclusion: There was an appreciable increase in the proportion of staff aware and screened for glaucoma after the campaign. Glaucoma awareness  campaigns should be a continuous exercise to increase awareness and screening amongst staff, especially the admin staff.