Title: Choice of Eye Care Giver in A Rural Community of Ebonyi State Nigeria
Authors: Chimdia E. Ogbonnaya, Lawrence U. Ogbonnaya
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v4i10.06
Abstract
Background: The Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki Nigeria was formulating a primary eye care plan for Igbeagu Development Centre as part of the comprehensive primary health care plan for the development centre.
Objectives: To assess the choice of eye care giver by the people of Nchokko in Igbeagu development centre in Izzi LGA of Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Methodology: This is a total population study. Respondents were visited in their households and interviewed using the interviewer- administered questionnaire design.
Results: There were 402 respondents of which 269 (68.9%) reported ever having eye symptoms. The common eye complaints were: red eye 135 (50.2 %), eye trauma 56 (20.8%), reduced vision 56 (20.8%), itching 5 (1.9%) and others 17 (6.3%). Majority (183 or 68.0%) practiced self-medication, 84 (31.2%) visited eye clinics while 2 (0.7%) did nothing. Respondents used eye drops 71.5% and ‘capsule powder’ 8.2%, from patent medicine shops; and also sugar water (8.2%), urine (3.3%), Breast milk (2.2), ‘Holy water’ (1.1%) and unspecified other (8.2%). Some of the respondents 98 (24.4%) used spectacles, of which only 24.5% were prescribed. The rest (75.5%) were procured without prescription.
Conclusion: The residents in Nchokko community were found to resort to self medication more than orthodox eye care services. Higher educational level and male gender influenced choice of orthodox eye care.
Recommendation: It is recommended that health education campaigns be carried out in this community with a view to discouraging self medication and increasing the utilisation of the available orthodox eye care services.
Keywords: Choice of eye care giver, self medication, Igbeagu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
References
1. Rahman M, Islam MM, Sadhya G, Latif MA. Disease pattern and health seeking behaivior in rural Bangladesh. Faridpur Med Coll J 2011;5:32-7
2. Christman N. The health seeking process. Cult Med Psychiat 1977;1:1357-68.
3. Pararajasegaram R. Vision 2020 - The right to sight: From strategies to action. Am J Ophthalmol.1999;128:359–60. [PubMed]
4. Chipendo GN, January J, Tapera R , Dube B Community perceptions of eye diseases among 14-40 year olds in Chiota, Zimbabwe. Educational Research (ISSN: 2141-5161) 2012 Vol. 3(10) pp. 780-784, Available online @ http://www.interesjournals.org/ER
5. Ebeigbe JA, Ovenseri-Ogbomo G O. Barriers to utilization of eye care services in rural communities in Edo state, Nigeria Borno medical journal 2014 vol. 11 (2): 98-100
6. Balarabe, A H, Hassan, R; Fatai, O. Eye Health Seeking Habits and Barriers to Accessing Curative Services among Blind Beggars in an Urban Community in Northern Nigeria. Annals of African Medicine; Dec2014, Vol. 13 (4) 5. p184
7. Rahmani B, Tielsch JM, Katz J, Gottsch J, Quigley H, Javitt J, Sommer A. The cause-specific prevalence of low vision in an urban population: the Baltimore Eye Survey. Ophthalmology1996;103:1721–1726.
8. Ogbonnaya CE, Okoye O, Ogbonnaya LU, Kizor – Akaraiwe N. Glaucoma Awareness and Knowledge, and attitude to glaucoma screening, in a Rural. Community in Ebonyi State. Nigeria. Open Journal of Ophthalmology 2016 vol.6 119-127
9. Omolase CO, Adido J, Adepoju FG, Omolase BO. Eye care treatment practices among rural Nigerians. Nigerian Journal of Surgical Sciences. 2007 Vol. 17(2): 116-120.
10. Gagnon. Investigation of traditional Eye Medicine in Malawi. International Development Research Centre News. 2002. 201 of 435;12: 8
11. Donoghue M. People who don’t use eye services. ‘making the invisible visible’.Community Eye Health Journal 1999;12(31): 36-37
12. Osahon AI. Consequences of traditional eye medication in UBTH Benin-City. Niger J Ophthalmol 1995;3:51-4.
13. Nwosu SNN, Obidiozor Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice •Oct-Dec 2011 • Vol 14• Issue 4 Downloaded free from http://www.njcponline.com on Monday, May 30, 2016, IP: 197.210.172.16
14. Megbelayin E O, Babalola YO. Health seeking behaviours of patients attending primary eye centre in Nigeria. Open Access Library Journal, 2015 2: e1489. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1101489
15. Ashaye, A., Ajuwon, A.J. and Adeoti, C. (2006) Perception of Blindness and Blinding Eye Conditions in Rural Communities. Journal of the National Medical Association, 98, 887- 893.
16. Lewallen, S. and Courtright, P. Recognizing and Reducing the Barrier to Cataract Surgery Community EyeHealth Journal 2000 13, 20-21.
17. Kovai V, Krishnaiah S, Shamanna B R, Thomas R, Roa G N. Barriers to accessing eye care services among visually impaired population in rural Andhra Pradesh, South India. Indian J Ophthalmol . 2007; 55:365-371.
18. Malhotra R, Uppal Y, Misra A . Increasing access to cataract surgery in a rural area--a support strategy. Ind J Public Health. 2005;89: 1399-402.
19. McGwin G, Khoury R, Cross J, Owsley C. Vision impairment and eye care utilization among Americans 50 years and older. Cur Eye Research. 2012; 35:451-458.
20. Melese M, Alemayehu W, Friedlander E, Courtright P. Indirect cost associated with assessing eye care services as a barrier to service use in Ethiopia. Trop Med Int Health. 2004;9: 426-431.
21. Olusanya B O, Ashaye A O, Owoaje E T, Baiyeroju A M, Ajayi B G. Determinants of Utilization of Eye Care Services in a Rural Adult Population of a Developing Country. Middle East Afr J Ophthalmol. 2016 Jan-Mar; 23(1): 96–103
22. Fafowora OF. Prevalence of blindness in rural ophthalmically underserved Nigerian community. West Afr Med J. 1996; 15:228-231