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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Barriers to spectacle use in Tanzanian secondary school students
Ophthalmic Epidemiology, Volume 15, No. 6, Year 2008
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Description
Purpose: Screening school students for refractive errors is a component of many primary eye care programs. In 2004 a trial of two approaches of spectacle-delivery to Tanzanian secondary school students found that only one third of students were using their spectacles at three months. Barriers to spectacle use were investigated using questionnaires and focus group discussions. Methods: At the three months follow-up survey a questionnaire explored satisfaction with spectacles and the attitudes of trial participants (median age 15 years). Attitudes and reactions of friends, teachers and families were also explored. Students also discussed their experience with spectacle use and reasons for non-use in 8 focus groups divided by intervention, sex and spectacle use. Results: In general, students seemed happy with the appearance of their spectacles and the beneficial impact on their vision. Peer pressure and parental concerns about safety of spectacle use, cost of purchasing spectacles and difficulties in accessing good local optical services were identified as the main barriers. Students criticized prescribing practices of local opticians and favored alternative and traditional treatments for visual impairment. Conclusion: To increase the effectiveness of school vision screening in Tanzania, barriers such as peer pressure or concerns about safety need to be addressed, in addition to provision of affordable, good quality spectacles. Barriers to spectacle use in children are likely to exist in all populations, but may vary in their nature and importance and therefore should be investigated in existing and new screening programs. Copyright © 2008 Informa Healthcare USA, Inc.
Authors & Co-Authors
Odedra, Nita
Unknown Affiliation
Wedner, S.
Unknown Affiliation
Shigongo, Z. S.
Unknown Affiliation
Nyalali, Kija
Unknown Affiliation
Gilbert, Clare Elizabeth
Unknown Affiliation
Statistics
Citations: 107
Authors: 5
Affiliations: 4
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1080/09286580802399094
ISSN:
09286586
e-ISSN:
17445086
Research Areas
Health System And Policy
Maternal And Child Health
Study Design
Randomised Control Trial
Cross Sectional Study
Cohort Study
Study Approach
Qualitative
Quantitative
Study Locations
Tanzania