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Knowledge and practice of primary eye care among primary healthcare workers in northern Nigeria
Author(s) -
AbdulRahman Aminatu Ali,
Rabiu Mansur Muhammad,
Alhassan Mahmoud Babanini
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1111/tmi.12486
Subject(s) - retraining , medicine , health care , family medicine , primary health care , eye care , delphi method , nursing , community health , optometry , environmental health , public health , population , economics , economic growth , statistics , mathematics , international trade , business
Objective To assess knowledge and practice of primary eye care among primary healthcare workers known as community health extension workers in Funtua district of Nigeria. Methods Cross‐sectional mixed method study among health workers employed in government‐owned primary healthcare facilities. Quantitative data were obtained using self‐administered questionnaires and checklists, while qualitative data by modified Delphi technique, role plays and observation. A score of 1 was given for each correct answer, while a total score of ≥60% was considered ‘good’. Results Eighty three of 88 health workers participated (94%) in the questionnaire survey; while 16 of them were selected for the qualitative survey. Good scores regarding the knowledge of common eye diseases were obtained by 68.7%, but only 26.4% of them could identify their most important features. Participants could undertake 3 of 5 steps in visual acuity testing. Skills in recognising common eye diseases and their management were weak; while practice was often not according to the guidelines. Conclusion Community health extension workers displayed good knowledge of common eye diseases. Areas of weakness are recognition and interpretation of eye signs, and practice rarely follows the guidelines. Preventive medicine was neglected; community health extension workers require practical retraining and supervision to achieve integration of primary eye care into primary healthcare services.