PATTERN AND PREVALENCE OF OCULAR MORBIDITY IN SCHOOL CHILDREN: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STATISTICAL STUDY IN DISTRICT HARIPUR, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Background: The spectrum of eye disease can be termed as ‘ocular morbidity,’ affects several people in developing counties, especially children worldwide. Childhood ocular morbidity critically impacts not only affect mental development, education, but also the quality of life of a child.

Objective: This study aimed to find out the frequency and causes of ocular morbidity among the school-going children of district Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.

Method: A cross sectional study was conducted in district Haripur from 2017- 2018, for which a total of 1521 school-going children were screened. Sample size was calculated using formula n= Z²PQ/D². The data was collected on a questionnaire from seven public schools of district Haripur, Pakistan. Data were then analyzed by statistical analysis using a statistical tool, SPSS version 16.

Results: Results from the study indicates that the overall frequency of ocular morbidity observed in 616 (40.50%) children, among which 525 (38.80%) belongs to a rural area and 91(44.20%) to urban.30.4% of children were affected with mild, 8.9% moderate, and 1.1% with severe ocular morbidity. Ocular diseases and refractive errors were also observed more frequently in children, as 9.9% and 9.1%, respectively. Myopia was observed in 4.9% and Blepharitis, with a frequency of 5.5%. Cataract was found in about 0.3% of children, Squint in 1.5% of children, Amblyopia 1.2%, Convergence Insufficiency 1.6%, Corneal Opacity 0.2% and Vitamin A deficiency was recorded as 0.9%. Some other ocular conditions such as Ptosis were 0.3% and Nystagmus, Keratoconus and Chalazion were found 0.4% collectively. The frequency of computer vision syndrome was in about 27.4% of children. Spearman correlation coefficients rho (R) showed a strong positive correlation between refractive error with squint and Amblyopia with ρ-value of 0.095** and ρ-value of 0.313**, respectively. Similar results obtained when squint correlated with Amblyopia and Convergence Insufficiency with spearman’s correlation coefficients of p-value of 0.332** and ρ-value of 0.537**.

Conclusion: It can be concluded that the frequency of ocular morbidity was found higher in children of urban areas as compared to the ruler area. Several conditions result in ocular morbidity, mare affecting the vision, and eventually decreasing the intelligence level and intellectual activities of children. Proper attention and management may be required to overcome the burden of ocular morbidity in the study area