Title:
Glaucoma in Nigeria: Factors Influencing Late Presentation of the Disease
Authors:
Chibueze, Livinus Martin
Year:
2015
PAGE:
viii, 52
Language:
En
Keywords:
Glaucoma, Diagnosis, Treatment, Epidemiology, Mass Screening, Piot Model, Nigeria
Abstract:
Patients with glaucoma present late, most of the time when the patient is blind in at least one eye. The epidemiology of the disease shows that a high number of people are blind from glaucoma in Nigeria. This study aim at finding reasons why there is late presentations for glaucoma in Nigeria and make recommendations. Using the Piot model, gaps were identified from the patients’ side and the health service side that could cause delay in presentation. The reasons from the patients’ side include; not aware of the disease, no available eye care facility to present and poverty. Unawareness of glaucoma is enhanced by lack of felt need due to the nature of the ailment which progresses quietly and known as the ‘silent thief’. At the level of the health care sector, lack of resources (human and equipment) for detecting and diagnosing the disease are important factors. The side with more gaps is the health sectors’. Mass awareness campaigns and mass screening cannot be initiated at the population level if there is nowhere to refer the patients to. This would be a futile effort if the eye care centres lack adequate professionals and basic equipment and supply to cater for them. Recommendations: The eye care units should be equipped with the appropriate staff and basic equipment to be able to detect, diagnose and manage glaucoma. Opportunistic case detection should be enhanced so comprehensive eye examination should be carried out on all patients above 40 years who present for any complaint.
Organization:
KIT - Royal Tropical Institute
,
VU - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Institute:
KIT (Royal Tropical Institute)
Department:
Health Unit
Country:
Nigeria
Region:
Western Africa
Training:
Master of Public Health / International Course in Health Development (MPH/ICHD)
Category:
Research
Right:
© 2015 Chibueze
Document type:
Thesis/dissertation
File:
oZutJKDkiZ_20161025161239552.pdf