Open AccessPrevalence Of Refractive Errors In School Going Children In Rural And Urban Areas -A Cross-Sectional Study
Author(s) -
Chimata Triveni,
Tirumuru Divya,
Ponna Rama Devi,
N. Lakshmi Chowdary,
Sirisha Gantela
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
tropical journal of ophthalmology and otolaryngology of siddharth health research and social welfare society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2581-4907
DOI - 10.17511/jooo.2021.i02.01
Subject(s) - refractive error , astigmatism , cross sectional study , optometry , medicine , significant difference , rural area , test (biology) , geography , demography , ophthalmology , visual acuity , optics , physics , paleontology , pathology , sociology , biology
Visual impairment affects students’ routine schoolwork and day-to-day activities.Hence, the aim is to study the prevalence of various refractive errors and their comparison amongschool children of 5-15 years in rural and urban areas. Methods: This cross-sectional studyexamined 998 students from both rural and urban schools. After obtaining ethical clearance andinformed consent, students were examined for refractive errors. The students with the refractiveerror were given a socio-demographic questionnaire and questionnaire regarding their usage oftelevision, computer, and family history of refractive errors. A Chi-square test was used to test thestatistical significance of proportions. P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant, anddata were analyzed by using coGuide software, V.1.03 Results: The prevalence of refractive errorwas found to be 6.41 %, with a prevalence of 7.61% in urban and 5.21% in rural areas. Thedifference in the type of refractive error between the study groups was found to be insignificant,with P= 0.897. Conclusion: Prevalence of refractive errors was more in urban school children thanrural. Refractive error was more prevalent in 13-15 years age group in both rural and urban schoolchildren. The most common refractive error was myopia, followed by astigmatism andhypermetropia.