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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Predictors of poor follow-up in children that had cataract surgery
Ophthalmic Epidemiology, Volume 13, No. 4, Year 2006
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Description
Background: Centers for high quality cataract surgery for children have been developed in a number of sub-Saharan African countries. Surgery, however, is only the first stage of a long, often complex, rehabilitation program. There are indications that follow-up in these settings is poor. In a setting with a high quality surgical service an active program to identify and manage children with cataract and a newly developed low vision program, we sought to measure routine follow-up and to determine the factors associated with good or poor follow-up. Methods: This prospective study included all children (under the age of 16 years) having surgery for congenital, developmental, or traumatic cataract at KCMC Hospital between March 2003 and October 2004. Standardized data was collected pre-, intra-, and postoperation. Follow-up was assessed at two weeks and ten weeks. Results: Among the 154 children included 35.1% had congenital cataract, 32.5% had developmental cataract, and 31.8% had traumatic cataract. Overall, 66.9% attended two-week follow-up and 42.9% attended ten-week follow-up. Multivariate analysis revealed that sex (being a boy), close proximity to a hospital, and minimal delay in presentation for surgery all independently predicted good follow-up at two weeks. Only distance from a hospital and preoperative vision (not blind in operative eye) predicted good ten-week follow up. Discussion: Current follow-up practices are inadequate. Significant investment in surgical interventions may not lead to improved visual rehabilitation or quality of life, if investments in follow-up are not increased. Linking individual children, their families, and the hospital needs to be approached systematically, if follow-up is to be improved. Improved hospital-based counseling should focus on families who bring their child late for surgery and with girls. Copyright © Informa Healthcare.
Authors & Co-Authors
Eriksen, John
Norway, Bergen
Universitetet I Bergen
Bronsard, Annie
Tanzania
Kilimanjaro Centre for Community Ophthalmology
Mosha, Mary Vincent
Tanzania
Kilimanjaro Centre for Community Ophthalmology
Carmichael, Debbie
Tanzania, Moshi
Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre
Hall, Anthony Bennett
Tanzania, Moshi
Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre
Courtright, Paul D.
Tanzania
Kilimanjaro Centre for Community Ophthalmology
Tanzania, Iringa
Tumaini University
Statistics
Citations: 60
Authors: 6
Affiliations: 4
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1080/09286580600672213
ISSN:
09286586
e-ISSN:
17445086
Research Areas
Disability
Health System And Policy
Maternal And Child Health
Study Design
Cohort Study
Participants Gender
Male
Female