Hewage, S. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2019

Cataract among elderly in Sri Lanka

Out of 39 billion people who are blind around the world, 20 billion (51.3%) is due to cataract, which is preventable. This study intended to assess the prevalence and factors associated with cataract among elderly in a divisional secretariat area in Sri Lanka. This community based cross sectional study assessed randomly selected470 adults over 60 years of age. Diagnosis of cataract was made by a slit lamp examination by medical officers, and classified according to Oxford Lens Opacity Classification system (LOCS III). Majority was between 60-69 age groups and 71% was females. The prevalence of cataract was estimated to be 80.6% including operated eye and 73.6% excluding the operated eye, with a female preponderance in lower age categories. Commonest type of cataract was the nuclear type (n=422; 44.9%), with a majority in grade 2 (218; 23.2%). The prevalence of cataract surgery in the diseased population was as low as 7%. Cataract leading to blindness is very prevalent among adults over 60 years of age in the studied area. Females tend to develop the disease at an early age than males. These findings warrant screening programme for elderly at community level, targeting females at a younger age than males. Future studies are recommended to assess the coverage and barriers for cataract surgeries at national level, which would be immensely useful in planning and improving health services.

epidemiology↗

bioRxiv2018

Systematic Review on Barriers and Facilitators for Access to Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Services

ObjectivesThe aim of this systematic review is to identify the barriers/enablers for the people with diabetes (PwDM) in accessing DRS services (DRSS) and challenges/facilitators for the providers.\n\nBackgroundDiabetic retinopathy (DR) can lead to visual impairment and blindness if not detected and treated in time. Achievement of an acceptable level of screening coverage is a challenge in any setting. Both patient-related and provider-related factors affect provision of DR screening (DRS) and uptake of services.\n\nMethodsWe searched MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL in the Cochrane Library from the databases start date to September 2016. We included the studies reported on barriers and enablers to access DRS by PwDM and studies which have assessed barriers or facilitators experienced by the providers in provision of DRSS. We identified and classified the studies that used quantitative or qualitative methods for data collection and analysis in reporting themes of barriers and enablers.\n\nMain ResultsWe included 63 studies primarily describing the barriers and enablers. The findings of these studies were based on PwDM from different socio-economic backgrounds and different levels of income settings. Most of the studies were from high income settings (48/63, 76.2%) and cross sectional in design (49/63, 77.8%). From the perspectives of users, lack of knowledge, attitude, awareness and motivation were identified as major barriers to access DRSS. The enablers to access DRSS were fear of blindness, proximity of screening facility, experiences of vision loss and being concerned of eye complications. Providers often mentioned that lack of awareness and knowledge among the PwDM was the main barrier to access. In their perspective lack of skilled human resources, training programs and infrastructure of retinal imaging and cost of services were the main obstacles in provision of screening services.\n\nConclusionKnowing the barriers to access DRS is a pre-requisite in development of a successful screening program. The awareness, knowledge and attitude of the consumers, availability of skilled human resources and infrastructure emerged as the major barriers to access to DRS in any income setting.

epidemiology↗