Community Medicine Abstracts - College of Medicine and Health ...

Project No. 34 (1994)A Study of Poor Vision Among Female School Children in Al AinStudent Authors: Aisha Abdulla MohammedFaculty Supervisors: Dr. C. Oyejide, Dr. G. AbsoodAbstract:Objective To determine the prevalence of poor vision among female school children inAl Ain district, to compare the prevalence rate among different age groups and toevaluate any association between poor vision and socio-economic status as well as thefamily history of poor vision.Design A cross sectional study was carried out in Al Ain city between 5th of Novemberand the 5th of December1994.Subjects The study population was 368 female students in 3 schools (primary,secondary and intermediate) in Al Ain district.Methods The data was collected in 13 days.Results Out of 368 there was 102 (27.7%) female students with visual acuity worsethan 6/9 and they needed referral to ophthalmologist. The prevalence of poor visionincreased with age being (3.6%) among primary school children and (38.3%) amongsecondary school children. There was strong family history of wearing glasses amongstudents who needed referral (33.7% of students with poor vision had a family historyof wearing glasses). Poor vision was shown to have a linear association with level ofsocio-economic status.Conclusion The yearly screening of visual acuity by the school health departmentshould be continued. The task is now implementing a good health education programamong both children and parents about the importance of early correction of poorvision.