Awareness Of Refractive Error And Diabetic Retinopathy In The Rural Population Of Western India

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the awareness, knowledge and treatment seeking tendencies about refractive error and diabetic retinopathy in rural western India.

Methods: The study was done from July 2019 to September 2019 in 1000 subjects in the rural population in the vicinity of Dhiraj general hospital, Pipariya. Demographic details about age, gender and literacy were collected. A questionnaire based door to door survey was done and their responses were graded and data was analysed.

Results: There were 475(47.5%) males and 525(52.5%) females. 590(59%) were between the ages of 20-50 years and 410(41%) were above 50 years of age. 210(21%) were illiterate, 565(56.5%) had received primary education and 225(22.5%) had received secondary education and above. It was observed that there was more awareness, knowledge and treatment seeking tendencies in educated  subjects  (p<0.01).  Younger  subjects  had  more  knowledge  about refractive  error  and  older  age  group  had  more  knowledge  about  diabetic retinopathy.

Conclusion: Our study strongly suggests that there is lack of awareness, knowledge and treatment seeking tendencies in the rural population in western India. More effective health education in the form of public health care programmes and mass media awareness might be beneficial.