American Journal of Advances in Nursing Research

PREVALENCE OF REFRACTIVE ERRORS AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN SELECTED SCHOOLS, BANGALORE

Tejeshwari B.V

tejeshwinirajesh@gmail.com

Refractive errors, Primary school children, Screening, Awareness, Prevalence

To assess the prevalence of refractive errors in primary school children. 2. To compare the prevalence rate obtained with known estimates in similar population. 3. To find association between baseline variables and refractive errors. Design: - Descriptive survey design was selected for the study consisting of 200 children. Baseline information was collected using an interview schedule. Each child was examined for visual acuity by Snellen’s chart and using a pinhole test. Those who were diagnosed to have refractive errors were referred to the ophthalmologist at nearest Health Centers. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Setting: - The study was conducted in selected schools, Bangalore. Result: - Out of the 200 children examined, 42 children (8.08%) were diagnosed to have refractive errors. There was a strong association between refractive errors and habit of watching T.V (X 2 = 3.96; p< 0.05 level of significance), but there was no association seen with refractive errors and other baseline variables. The study findings revealed no significant association between the prevalence rates obtained in the present study and known estimates in similar population. Conclusion: - The prevalence of refractive errors is relatively high among primary school children. The findings revealed that, 8.08% (42) of the children had refractive errors. Hence, it is important to identify the cases of refractive errors early in the life and to provide necessary correction. This needs concerned efforts to enhance community awareness and initiate various school screening programmes to prevent blindness due to refractive errors