Age-pattern of blindness in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper discusses age pattern of blindness in Nigerian. The ultimate objective is to provide information on which strategies for prevention and treatment of blindness, as well as the rehabilitation on which strategies for prevention and treatment of blindness, as well as the rehabilitation and integration of blind persons into social life could be based. This follows from the fact that most causes, preventive measures and treatment of blindness have been found to be associated with age. Secondary data drawn from the 1994 census of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was analysed using the methods of categorical data and regression analyses. Results show that the quality of data on age and sex on the blind population is very poor. From the census data the level of prevalence of blindness in Nigerian was shown to be grossly under-reported. It was also found that third degree polynomial appears to describe the age-pattern of blindness in Nigeria, though not adequately. The inadequacies were attributed to the distortions in the age reporting. Until further research proves otherwise, estimates of the age-specific prevalence of blindness based on the third degree polynomial has been recommended for use in developing strategies for addressing problems of blindness in Nigeria among others.

JONAMP Vol. 11 2007: pp. 641-656