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The Prevalence and Causes of Visual Impairment among Children in Kenya – The Kenya Eye Study
Shadrack Muma
Maseno University
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0598-1632
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published version at BMC Ophthalmology.
Background: Visual impairment is the partial or complete loss of vision in which the presenting visual acuity lie between 6/18-no perceptions of light. In Kenya, little attention has been directed towards children vision and causes of visual impairment. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the prevalence and causes of visual impairment in the children population of Kenya.
Methods: This cross-sectional population-based study included 3400 (1800, 52.9% female) randomly selected children with a mean age of 12 ± 2 years (range 5–16 years). Visual acuity was taken using Snellens chart at 6 meters. Anterior and posterior segment was assessed using slit lamp and indirect ophthalmoscope. The World Health Organization definition formed the baseline for calculating the mean prevalence of visual impairment.
Results: Visual acuity measurements were available for 3240 (95.3%) participants. The mean prevalence of visual impairment based on pin-hole value was 1.7 ± 0.3% using World Health Organization definition. The prevalence of visual impairment based on presenting visual acuity value was 2.4 ± 0.7% using the World Health Organization definition. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the presence of visual impairment on pin-hole increased significantly with increasing age (odds ratio 1.230, P=.021) and uncorrected refractive error (odds ratio 0.834, P = .032) according to World Health Organization definition. Cases of uncorrected refractive error remained the major cause for presenting visual impairment. Causes of visual impairment due to presenting visual acuity were nystagmus (14%), amblyopia (24%) and uncorrected refractive error (62%).
Conclusion: The prevalence of visual impairment in Kenya is associated with age. Uncorrected refractive error remains the major causes of visual impairment.
Keywords
Kenya, prevalence, ocular diseases, visual impairment, refractive error
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CURRENT STATUS: Published
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Posted 23 Sep, 2020
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On 07 Oct, 2020
Published
On 07 Oct, 2020
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Editorial decision: Accept
On 28 Sep, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 27 Sep, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 22 Sep, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 22 Sep, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 21 Sep, 2020
Editor assigned
On 20 Sep, 2020
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Invitations sent on 20 Sep, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 19 Sep, 2020
Editor invited
On 19 Sep, 2020
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Reviewer #2 agreed
On 13 Sep, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 13 Sep, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 11 Sep, 2020
Editor assigned
On 10 Sep, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 10 Sep, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 09 Sep, 2020
Editor invited
On 09 Sep, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 03 Sep, 2020
Review #3 received
Received 03 Sep, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 17 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 08 Aug, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 08 Aug, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 31 Jul, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 22 Jul, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 21 Jul, 2020
Editor assigned
On 07 Jul, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 06 Jul, 2020
Editor invited
On 06 Jul, 2020
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Subject Areas
Ophthalmology
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This preprint is under consideration at BMC Ophthalmology. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research article
The Prevalence and Causes of Visual Impairment among Children in Kenya – The Kenya Eye Study
Shadrack Muma
Maseno University
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0598-1632
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Published
Version 3
Posted 23 Sep, 2020
Published
On 07 Oct, 2020
Published
On 07 Oct, 2020
No community comments so far
Editorial decision: Accept
On 28 Sep, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 27 Sep, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 22 Sep, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 22 Sep, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 21 Sep, 2020
Editor assigned
On 20 Sep, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 20 Sep, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 19 Sep, 2020
Editor invited
On 19 Sep, 2020
No comments provided
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 13 Sep, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 13 Sep, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 11 Sep, 2020
Editor assigned
On 10 Sep, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 10 Sep, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 09 Sep, 2020
Editor invited
On 09 Sep, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 03 Sep, 2020
Review #3 received
Received 03 Sep, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 17 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 08 Aug, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 08 Aug, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 31 Jul, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 22 Jul, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 21 Jul, 2020
Editor assigned
On 07 Jul, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 06 Jul, 2020
Editor invited
On 06 Jul, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Ophthalmology
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published version at BMC Ophthalmology.
Background: Visual impairment is the partial or complete loss of vision in which the presenting visual acuity lie between 6/18-no perceptions of light. In Kenya, little attention has been directed towards children vision and causes of visual impairment. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the prevalence and causes of visual impairment in the children population of Kenya.
Methods: This cross-sectional population-based study included 3400 (1800, 52.9% female) randomly selected children with a mean age of 12 ± 2 years (range 5–16 years). Visual acuity was taken using Snellens chart at 6 meters. Anterior and posterior segment was assessed using slit lamp and indirect ophthalmoscope. The World Health Organization definition formed the baseline for calculating the mean prevalence of visual impairment.
Results: Visual acuity measurements were available for 3240 (95.3%) participants. The mean prevalence of visual impairment based on pin-hole value was 1.7 ± 0.3% using World Health Organization definition. The prevalence of visual impairment based on presenting visual acuity value was 2.4 ± 0.7% using the World Health Organization definition. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the presence of visual impairment on pin-hole increased significantly with increasing age (odds ratio 1.230, P=.021) and uncorrected refractive error (odds ratio 0.834, P = .032) according to World Health Organization definition. Cases of uncorrected refractive error remained the major cause for presenting visual impairment. Causes of visual impairment due to presenting visual acuity were nystagmus (14%), amblyopia (24%) and uncorrected refractive error (62%).
Conclusion: The prevalence of visual impairment in Kenya is associated with age. Uncorrected refractive error remains the major causes of visual impairment.
Figure 1