Main Article Content
Knowledge Of glaucoma and its socio-demographic determinants: a comparative study of selected rural and urban communities in Kwara State, North-central Nigeria
Abstract
Background Information: Glaucoma causes an irreversible blindness and presents a greater public health challenge than cataracts. One of the problems fueling this is inadequate knowledge of the disease, particularly in developing countries. This study aimed to assess and compare the knowledge of glaucoma among adults in selected communities of Kwara State, Nigeria
Methodology: This was a cross-sectional comparative study. Respondents were selected through multi-stage sampling technique. Interviewer- administered structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 15. Level of statistical significance was set at p<0.05
Result: Higher proportion of urban respondents demonstrated better knowledge of symptoms, 139 (30.9%) and risk factors 122 (27.1%) than the rural respondents. However, the mean scores for knowledge of symptoms (7.3±1.5 vs 6.7±1.9)) and risk factors (8.0±2.2 vs 7.8±2.3) among the rural respondents were higher compared with the urban respondents, but the observed difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Sex and Educational status were the two significant socio-demographic determinants (Rural versus Urban) associated with both knowledge of symptoms and risk factors.
Conclusion: Poor knowledge of glaucoma has been demonstrated among the respondents in both rural and urban communities in this study. This gap in knowledge among the respondents is inimical to the efforts towards reduction of burden of glaucoma.
Recommendation: There is need for the Government to scale-up efforts at educating the public on glaucoma to prevent avoidable irreversible blindness.
Keywords: Knowledge, glaucoma, determinants, Nigeria
Savannah Journal of Medical Research and Practice 2017;6(2):16-28
Methodology: This was a cross-sectional comparative study. Respondents were selected through multi-stage sampling technique. Interviewer- administered structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 15. Level of statistical significance was set at p<0.05
Result: Higher proportion of urban respondents demonstrated better knowledge of symptoms, 139 (30.9%) and risk factors 122 (27.1%) than the rural respondents. However, the mean scores for knowledge of symptoms (7.3±1.5 vs 6.7±1.9)) and risk factors (8.0±2.2 vs 7.8±2.3) among the rural respondents were higher compared with the urban respondents, but the observed difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Sex and Educational status were the two significant socio-demographic determinants (Rural versus Urban) associated with both knowledge of symptoms and risk factors.
Conclusion: Poor knowledge of glaucoma has been demonstrated among the respondents in both rural and urban communities in this study. This gap in knowledge among the respondents is inimical to the efforts towards reduction of burden of glaucoma.
Recommendation: There is need for the Government to scale-up efforts at educating the public on glaucoma to prevent avoidable irreversible blindness.
Keywords: Knowledge, glaucoma, determinants, Nigeria
Savannah Journal of Medical Research and Practice 2017;6(2):16-28
