EYE CARE SERVICE UTILIZATION AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG ADULT DIABETIC PATIENTS ATTENDING DIABETIC CARE FOLLOW-UP CLINICS OF DESSIE AND DEBRE BIRHAN COMPREHENSIVE SPECIALIZED HOSPITALS, NORTHEAST ETHIOPIA, 2020.

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Regular eye checkups are essential for diabetic patients in order to reduce the impact of vision-threatening complications of diabetes mellitus; despite having a good vision or asymptomatic. However, there is lack of evidence regarding the eye care service utilization and associated factors among diabetic patients in Ethiopia. Objective: the purpose of this study was to assess eye care service utilization and associated factors among adult diabetic patients attending Diabetic care follow-up clinics of Dessie and Debre Birhan Comprehensive Specialized Hospitals, Northeast Ethiopia, 2020. Methods and materials: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out on 531 study participants at Dessie and Debre Birhan Comprehensive Specialized Hospitals from July 06/2020 – August 14/2020. Systematic random sampling was employed to select study participants. Pretested structured questionnaire, checklist, and visual acuity charts were used to collect data. EpiData version 4.4 and Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25 softwares were used for data entry and analysis, respectively. The descriptive statistics were summarized and presented by frequency distribution and measures of central tendency. Variables with p-values of < 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. Adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence interval were used to determine the strength of association. Results: In this study, a total of 531 diabetic patients participated with the response rate of 97.3%. The proportion of eye care service utilization within the past 1 year was 31.5% [95%CI (27.5-35.4)]. Age of 40-59 years [AOR=2.87, 95%CI; (1.49-5.5)] and >60 years [AOR=2.93, 95%CI; (1.44-5.98)], duration of diabetes mellitus 5-9 years [AOR=2.01, 95%CI; (1.1-3.82)] and >9 years [AOR=2.2, 95%CI; (1.14-4.22)], presence of visual symptoms [AOR=4.37, 95%CI; (2.57-7.42)], favorable attitude [AOR=3, 95%CI; (1.75-5.15)], and adequate knowledge [AOR=2.95, 95%CI; (1.67-5.22)] had statistically significant association with eye care service utilization. Conclusion and recommendations: The proportion of eye care service utilization in this study was found to be 31.5%. Continuous health education on diabetic eye complications as well as the need for eye checkups would be helpful. Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, diabetic eye disease, eye care service utilization.