Socioeconomic factors in childhood cataracts – A descriptive study from a tertiary eye care center in India
Purpose: While there are a few studies that show the prevalence of blindness and ocular morbidity in children, studies on socioeconomic factors in childhood cataracts are scarce. We aimed to study the socioeconomic status, education and occupation of the parents, consanguinity, and gender inequalit...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Indian Journal of Ophthalmology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.ijo.in/article.asp?issn=0301-4738;year=2023;volume=71;issue=2;spage=547;epage=552;aulast=Kemmanu |
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| author | Vasudha Kemmanu Aayesha Khanum Ramesh Venkatesh B B Keshavardhini M Bhanumathi Sumitha Muthu Bhujang Shetty |
| author_facet | Vasudha Kemmanu Aayesha Khanum Ramesh Venkatesh B B Keshavardhini M Bhanumathi Sumitha Muthu Bhujang Shetty |
| author_sort | Vasudha Kemmanu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose: While there are a few studies that show the prevalence of blindness and ocular morbidity in children, studies on socioeconomic factors in childhood cataracts are scarce. We aimed to study the socioeconomic status, education and occupation of the parents, consanguinity, and gender inequality among children presenting with cataracts. Methods: This was a hospital-based, prospective, descriptive study of 68 children with cataracts (aged 0–18 years). In addition to the data on clinical parameters and surgical management, we also collected data on age, gender, age at which the chief complaint was noticed, consanguinity of parents, socioeconomic class, and occupation and education of parents. All statistical analyses were performed using MedCalc statistical software (MedCalc Software 2019, Ostend, Belgium). Results: Sixty-eight children with pediatric cataract, out of which 36 were bilateral, were studied. Thirty children (44%) were in the age group of 1–5 years. Out of the 36 bilateral cataracts, 25 (69.44%) were males and 11 (30.56%) were females. Thirty (44.1%) had a delayed presentation. Also, 31% belonged to middle class and 28% belonged to lower middle class. Moreover, 65% of the mothers had an undergraduate education. Conclusion: There is a gender-based inequality and late presentation of childhood cataracts. To improve early detection, red reflex screening should be mandatorily done. Further studies are required to identify barriers to access of eye care specific to girls, in order to plan interventions to improve uptake of treatment. The lower socioeconomic status of the patients should be taken into account in the management of this disease. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T22:31:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-273d6b0f2d304bde97a74a84ac786d3f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0301-4738 1998-3689 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T22:31:23Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Indian Journal of Ophthalmology |
| spelling | doaj.art-273d6b0f2d304bde97a74a84ac786d3f2023-07-21T15:04:35ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsIndian Journal of Ophthalmology0301-47381998-36892023-01-0171254755210.4103/ijo.IJO_1160_22Socioeconomic factors in childhood cataracts – A descriptive study from a tertiary eye care center in IndiaVasudha KemmanuAayesha KhanumRamesh VenkateshB B KeshavardhiniM BhanumathiSumitha MuthuBhujang ShettyPurpose: While there are a few studies that show the prevalence of blindness and ocular morbidity in children, studies on socioeconomic factors in childhood cataracts are scarce. We aimed to study the socioeconomic status, education and occupation of the parents, consanguinity, and gender inequality among children presenting with cataracts. Methods: This was a hospital-based, prospective, descriptive study of 68 children with cataracts (aged 0–18 years). In addition to the data on clinical parameters and surgical management, we also collected data on age, gender, age at which the chief complaint was noticed, consanguinity of parents, socioeconomic class, and occupation and education of parents. All statistical analyses were performed using MedCalc statistical software (MedCalc Software 2019, Ostend, Belgium). Results: Sixty-eight children with pediatric cataract, out of which 36 were bilateral, were studied. Thirty children (44%) were in the age group of 1–5 years. Out of the 36 bilateral cataracts, 25 (69.44%) were males and 11 (30.56%) were females. Thirty (44.1%) had a delayed presentation. Also, 31% belonged to middle class and 28% belonged to lower middle class. Moreover, 65% of the mothers had an undergraduate education. Conclusion: There is a gender-based inequality and late presentation of childhood cataracts. To improve early detection, red reflex screening should be mandatorily done. Further studies are required to identify barriers to access of eye care specific to girls, in order to plan interventions to improve uptake of treatment. The lower socioeconomic status of the patients should be taken into account in the management of this disease.http://www.ijo.in/article.asp?issn=0301-4738;year=2023;volume=71;issue=2;spage=547;epage=552;aulast=Kemmanucataractpediatricsocial factors |
| spellingShingle | Vasudha Kemmanu Aayesha Khanum Ramesh Venkatesh B B Keshavardhini M Bhanumathi Sumitha Muthu Bhujang Shetty Socioeconomic factors in childhood cataracts – A descriptive study from a tertiary eye care center in India Indian Journal of Ophthalmology cataract pediatric social factors |
| title | Socioeconomic factors in childhood cataracts – A descriptive study from a tertiary eye care center in India |
| title_full | Socioeconomic factors in childhood cataracts – A descriptive study from a tertiary eye care center in India |
| title_fullStr | Socioeconomic factors in childhood cataracts – A descriptive study from a tertiary eye care center in India |
| title_full_unstemmed | Socioeconomic factors in childhood cataracts – A descriptive study from a tertiary eye care center in India |
| title_short | Socioeconomic factors in childhood cataracts – A descriptive study from a tertiary eye care center in India |
| title_sort | socioeconomic factors in childhood cataracts a descriptive study from a tertiary eye care center in india |
| topic | cataract pediatric social factors |
| url | http://www.ijo.in/article.asp?issn=0301-4738;year=2023;volume=71;issue=2;spage=547;epage=552;aulast=Kemmanu |
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