Risk factors of ocular morbidity among under-five years old children in Khartoum State- Sudan- 2020.
Health Sci Rep 2021;
4:e279. [PMID:
33977161 PMCID:
PMC8093856 DOI:
10.1002/hsr2.279]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
Visual impairment in early childhood can significantly affect the development of visual, motor, and cognitive function and potentially lead to long-term adverse psychosocial consequences. This study aimed to identify the risk factors of ocular morbidity among under 5-year old children in Khartoum State, Sudan.
METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted in three tertiary eye care hospitals in Khartoum State, Sudan. The study included 391 children under the age of 5 years. The parent(s) were interviewed using a precoded, pretested, closed-ended questionnaire that included questions regarding socio-demographic profile and possible risk factors. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (version 21.0). A P-value of less than .05 was regarded as significant.
RESULTS
There was a significant association between participants with diabetes mellitus and poor vision (P-value <.001). Two-thirds of participants (57%) with visual impairment had mothers, who reportedly attended antenatal care services regularly (P-value .001), revealing a significant statistical association. Maternal diseases, specifically diabetes, was identified as a risk factor for poor visual acuity in their offspring (P-value <.001). A significant relation was revealed between family history of eye disease and the degree of relationship to the affected participant (P-value <.001). There was an association between watching TV and current visual acuity (P-value <.001); as well as using mobile phones and current visual acuity (P-value <.001). Multilinear analysis revealed the stronger influence of TV watching rather than the use of mobile phones (P-value <.001).
CONCLUSIONS
Diabetes, diabetic mothers, a family history of ocular morbidity, watching television, and using mobile phones emerged as significant risk factors of ocular morbidity among children under the age of 5 years in this study. Many of these risk factors are either modifiable or controllable ocular morbidities among under-five children can be reduced with suitable interventions.
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