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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Inappropriate enrolment of children in schools for the visually impaired in east Africa
Annals of Tropical Paediatrics, Volume 29, No. 2, Year 2009
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Description
Background: Many visually impaired children can learn to read print with appropriate training and simple visual aids. This may allow them to attend normal schools and to be integrated into society, which has lifelong benefits. Yet, in Africa, many visually impaired children are enrolled in special schools and taught only Braille. The purpose of this analysis was to document the extent of inappropriate enrolment of visually impaired children in special schools and annexes for the blind in four African countries. Methods: Schools were selected through a population-proportional-to-size method so that they would represent all children attending special schools in Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda. Children were examined by ophthalmologists trained in standardised methods to determine visual acuity and the cause of decreased acuity. Results: Of 1062 children examined in special schools and annexes for the blind, 361 (34%, 95% CI 31.2, 36.8) had visual acuity ≥6/60; the most common cause of visual impairment was retinal disease. Of the 120 children with normal vision (≥6/18), 69 (57.5%) had two normal eyes, 21 (17.5%) had an obvious ocular disfigurement in the fellow eye and 10 (8.4%) had had successful cataract surgery. Conclusions: In these countries, many children are placed inappropriately in special schools and annexes for the blind. The reasons are multiple and to rectify the situation will require advocacy and cooperation between ministries of health and education. © 2009 Maney.
Authors & Co-Authors
Tumwesigye, Cillasy
Uganda, Kampala
Mulago Hospital
Msukwa, Gerald
Malawi, Blantyre
Lions Sight First Eye Hospital
Njuguna, Margaret
Kenya, Nairobi
University of Nairobi
Shilio, Bernadetha R.
Tanzania, Moshi
Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre
Courtright, Paul D.
Tanzania, Moshi
Good Samaritan Foundation
Lewallen, Susan
Tanzania, Moshi
Good Samaritan Foundation
Statistics
Citations: 25
Authors: 6
Affiliations: 5
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1179/146532809X440752
ISSN:
02724936
e-ISSN:
14653281
Research Areas
Disability
Health System And Policy
Infectious Diseases
Maternal And Child Health
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Locations
Multi-countries
Kenya
Malawi
Tanzania
Uganda