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Background: Refractive error affect the whole spectrum of population irrespective of age, sex, race and ethnic group. It’s estimated globally 153 million are visual impaired as a result of refractive error. Of which 8 million are blind.12.8 million in the age group 5–15 years are visually impaired from uncorrected or inadequately corrected refractive errors. Uncorrected refractive error (33.4%) is the second major cause of low vision next to cataract (42.3%) and the third major causes of national blindness in Ethiopia.
Objective: To assess the prevalence and associated factors of uncorrected refractive errors among primary school children in Nekemte Town, East Wollega Zone, Ethiopia.
Method: School based cross sectional study was used among of 868 primary school students in Nekemte town Oromia Ethiopia. Pretested structured questionnaires and result of eye examination, Visual acuity and retinoscopy were utilized to assess uncorrected refractive error and its type. Dated was collected by 5 trained optometrists and 1 nurse. It was entered and cleaned by Epi info TM 7 and exported to SPSS version 20.0 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariate logistics regression was applied to identify the associated factor with uncorrected refractive error
Result: Eight hundred sixty eight students were participated with a response rate of 100% from 6 selected schools. 118 (13.6%), 95% CI: (11.5-15.8) were found uncorrected refractive errors. Of these, myopia 69 (7.9%) followed by 33(3.8%), Hypermetropia and 17 (2.0%) Astigmatic. Father’s educational level unable to write and read (AOR 0.291 95%CI (0.087-0.968) P Value= 0.044), and children who had eye check-up (AOR 0.439, 95% CI (0.28-0.68) P-Value 0.001) were found to be independently significant with uncorrected refractive error
Conclusion and Recommendation: The prevalence of uncorrected refractive error is 13.6% among primary school children in Nekemte town. Children's whose fathers were illiterate and the children who had previously eye check-up were significantly associated with URE. It needs due attention by decision makers, government, NGOs and key actors to design the intervention.
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