Abstract:
Background: Cataract is still the leading cause of blindness and low-vision worldwide. In
adequate and inefficient cataract surgical service characterized by high backlog of unoperated
cataract and increasing incidence of cataract due to population ageing. However, despite
relatively rapid increase in the availability of quality of service, surgical feasibility still low in
some segments of Ethiopia society.
Objective: To assess the prevalence of cataract blindness and factors associated with untreated
cataract among adults aged 40 years and older in Garno Goffa zone, Southern Ethiopia.
Methods: Community based cross sectional study design was carried on the assessment all
adults aged 40 years and older living in randomly kebeles considered eligible for the study. A
probability, multistage sampling techniques used to collect the data. a sample of 845 individual
and systematic random sampling method applied to select the study participants from
January l-February 30/2014. The data was collected by pre tested structured questionnaire and
semi structured interviewer guide.
Result: A total of 839 persons aged 40 years or older were examined physically,
91(10.1%) person had cataract and the rest 748(89,2%) had no cataract cases. Of the total 39
(4.6%) (95% CI,3.3,4.2) were bilaterally blind (VA<3/60) as a result of all causes. Of
these, 25 (64.1%) bilaterally blind because of cataract, a prevalence of 3.0% (95% CI, l.9 -
4.2).Factors associated with untreated cataract were age, distance .no one accompany to the
hospital.
Conclusion: The prevalence Cataract blindness is high in the study area that was increase with
ageing. Awareness campaigns for the family to help the cataract blind patients to get eye care
service timely and expansion of surgical services may help to increase the cataract surgical rate.
These results were enable health managers to plan effective interventions by incorporating with
other health service. Factors such as age, distance, no one accompany to the hospital and others
such as surgical service unavailable were significantly associated factors for untreated cataract.
......................................... Thesis available at ACIPH Library