Prevalence of Refractive Errors and Its Determinants among Lower Primary School Children

Abstract

Vision plays an important role in children’s physical, cognitive, and social development. The present study was intended to assess the prevalence of refractive errors and its determinants among lower primary school children. The objectives were to determine the prevalence of refractive errors among lower primary school children and to find out the determinants of refractive errors among lower primary school children. Theoretical framework adopted for the study was Betty Neuman Systems Model. The research design selected for this study was descriptive cross sectional design. Determinants of refractive errors were collected from parents using questionnaire and visual acuity was checked using Snellen chart (Malayalam alphabets, Number chart and E chart) by the researcher. The study was conducted among 508 lower primary school children studying in two schools of Alappuzha district selected by multistage sampling. The prevalence of refractive errors among lower primary school children was 16.72%. In univariate analysis refractive error was found to be significantly associated with age (6-8 years) (p =0.019, OR=0.547), male gender (p = 0.002, OR=2.103 ) and preterm birth ( p = 0.001, OR=3.143). In multivariate analysis occurrence of refractive error was statistically associated with male gender (AOR: 1.985, 95% CI: 1.213, 3.248) and preterm birth (AOR: 2.875, 95% CI: 1.436, 5.760) adjusted for age. Preterm babies were 2.87 times risk for developing refractive error in the future than the term babies. Males were 1.98 times risk for developing refractive error than girls. Hence male gender and preterm birth were identified as determinants of refractive errors among lower primary school children. Prevalence of refractive error among lower primary school children in Alappuzha district was high.