Abstract:
Background: Glaucoma is a global public health problem and it is the leading cause of irreversible blindness
worldwide. Even though public knowledge of glaucoma is a key for early case identification and prevention of
blindness, it is unknown in the study area, making provision of interventions difficult. Therefore, this study was
intended to assess knowledge of glaucoma and associated factors among adults in Gish Abay town, Northwest
Ethiopia, 2018.
Methods: A Community based cross - sectional design study with systematic random sampling technique was
used to select 630 adults. The study was conducted from April to May, 2018. Data was entered into Epi Info version
7 and was analysed by Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 23. Binary logistic regression model and
adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence level was used to identify the significant factors associated with
knowledge of glaucoma. Variables with P–value ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: About 594 adults were participated with a response rate of 94%. Above half of (52%) the participants were
females with median age of 28 years. The proportion of good knowledge was demonstrated in 16.8% [95% CI; 14.0,
19.9]. Educational status: primary education [AOR; 2.89: 1.41, 5.90], secondary education [AOR; 3.03: 1.47, 6.24]
college and above [AOR; 5.18: 2.21, 12.13], history of eye examination [AOR; 6.52: 3.37, 12.63]; family history of
glaucoma [AOR; 12.08: 4.13, 35.30] and higher income level [AOR; 3.11: 1.55, 6.25] were positively associated with
good knowledge of glaucoma.
Conclusions: The proportion of good knowledge of glaucoma was low. Higher educational status, positive family
history of glaucoma, eye examination and higher income level were significantly associated with knowledge of
glaucoma
