PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS OF VISUAL IMPAIRMENT AMONG ADULTS IN NEKEMTE TOWN, WESTERN ETHIOPIA, 2022

Abstract

Abstract Background: Visual impairment refers to presenting distance visual acuity less than 6/12 in the better eye. It is a major public health problem with more than a billion people affected around the world. There are diminutive community-based studies among adults in our country as well as no studies in Nekemte town. Therefore, updated data regarding the prevalence and associated factors of visual impairment helps to plan an appropriate strategy for its prevention and management. Objective: To assess the prevalence and associated factors of visual impairment among adults of Nekemte town, Western Ethiopia, 2022 Method: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 939 adults selected by a multi-stage sampling technique. Data was collected using a structured interviewer administered questionnaire and through ocular examination from May 15 -June 30, 2022. Data was entered using Epidemiological data version 3.1 and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science version 25. Binary and multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine factors associated with visual impairment. Variables with a P-value of <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Result: A total of 939 participants were included in the study with a response rate of 95.4%. The prevalence of visual impairment was 9.7% (95%CI: 7.9-11.7). Age ?36 years (AOR=3.91:95%CI; 1.62-9.38), positive history of family eye problem (AOR=5.45: 95%CI; 2.49-11.92), average monthly household income <3000 Ethiopian total birr (AOR=5.71:95%CI, 1.90-17.17), medically confirmed history of hypertension (AOR=5.69 95%CI; 2.75-11.78) and medically confirmed history of diabetes (AOR=6.40: 95%CI; 2.68-15.29) were positively associated with visual impairment. Conclusion: The prevalence of visual impairment was about one tenth. Visual impairment was significantly associated with an old age, a positive family history of eye problems, low average monthly household income, a medically confirmed history of hypertension and diabetes. Key-words: - Visual impairment, Adult, Nekemte, Ethiopia, Prevalence, Associated factors