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Published:
Feb 28, 2023DOI:
10.4314/gmj.v57i1.9Keywords:
Article Details
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Main Article Content
Ophthalmic services utilisation and associated factors in the Ashanti region, Ghana
Abstract
Objective: This survey determined the utilisation of eye care services and associated factors among adults in the Ashanti region of Ghana.
Design: A population-based cross-sectional descriptive study
Method: Data for this study was collected from 1615 randomly selected individuals in the Ashanti region of Ghana, using a structured, pretested interviewer-guided questionnaire. Information regarding the accessibility and determinants of, and barriers to, eye care services was based on self-reports, using the WHO Eye Care Services Assessment Questionnaire. Inferential analyses were performed using the chi-square test for statistical significance, set at p=0.05.
Setting: Ashanti Region, Ghana
Participants: One thousand six hundred and fifteen randomly selected adults
Results: Public eye care facilities were used by 58.2% of the participants for their last eye exam. Of the participants, 47.0% had travelled less than five kilometres for their last eye exam. Waiting time and service cost were participants’ most frequently cited challenges in seeking care. No need felt (40.1%), self-medication (37.7%) and cost (22.2%) were the most frequently mentioned barriers to seeking ophthalmic services.
Conclusion: The major challenges encountered in seeking eye care services were waiting time and cost of service. Major barriers to ophthalmic services utilisation were no need felt, self-medication and cost. Factors such as cost, lack of felt need and self-medication, which serve as barriers to utilising eye care services, should be addressed by stakeholders through eye health education and promotion.
