ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year : 2015 | Volume
: 2 | Issue : 1 | Page : 50--54
Prevalence of cataract among adults above 50 years in a rural community of Villupuram, Tamil Nadu
R Aarthi1, Gautam Roy2, Sitanshu Sekhar Kar2, Renuka Srinivasan2
1 Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry; Health and Family Welfare Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Kondur, Villupuram, Tamil Nadu, India
2 Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Sitanshu Sekhar Kar
Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry - 605 006
India
Background: In India, overall prevalence of blindness is 1.1%, the principal cause being cataract (62.6%) affecting over 9 million people. Aim: The present study was carried out to find the prevalence, barriers and facilitating factors related to cataract health services in a rural community of Tamil Nadu. Methods: The study was carried out in four villages in sub-center Kondur, under Primary Health Centre (PHC) Kondur, Villupuram district, Tamil Nadu, during November-December 2010. All adults of more than 50 years (n = 331) residing in the sub-center Kondur, were examined for lenticular opacity and visual acuity. A structured proforma was used to assess the awareness, barriers and facilitating factors related to available cataract health services. Results: The prevalence of cataract among the population studied was 62.8% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 57.5-67.9%). There was a significant increase in cataract with increase in age (P < 0.001). Only 13% (95% CI: 9.6-16.3%) of the persons with cataract were operated at the time of interview. The major barriers were no one to accompany (25.5%) and absence of felt need (22.6%). Less than one-fifth (17.8%) reported the awareness of cataract as a condition affecting eye. The facilitating factors were free surgery in camps (83.7%), self-decision due to defective vision (69.7%) and quality of service provided (65.1%). More than one-half (56.7%) of subjects diagnosed for cataract during the survey were willing to be operated. Conclusion: Prevalence of cataract was high in Kondur PHC area. It is vital to increase the level of awareness regarding the need and availability of cataract health services.
How to cite this article:
Aarthi R, Roy G, Kar SS, Srinivasan R. Prevalence of cataract among adults above 50 years in a rural community of Villupuram, Tamil Nadu.Int J Adv Med Health Res 2015;2:50-54
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How to cite this URL:
Aarthi R, Roy G, Kar SS, Srinivasan R. Prevalence of cataract among adults above 50 years in a rural community of Villupuram, Tamil Nadu. Int J Adv Med Health Res [serial online] 2015 [cited 2023 Mar 29 ];2:50-54
Available from: https://www.ijamhrjournal.org/article.asp?issn=2349-4220;year=2015;volume=2;issue=1;spage=50;epage=54;aulast=Aarthi;type=0 |
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