Original Research Article
Year: 2018 | Month: October | Volume: 8 | Issue: 10 | Pages: 228-232
Prevalence of Cataract and Major Obstacles to Uptake Cataract Surgery in Rural Regions of Ganjam (Odisha, India)
Tapasi Upadhyaya1, Nandini Pattanaik2, Jayashree Samal2, Bidyut Prava Nayak2, Prabhu Kaibalya Das1
1Khallikote University, Berhampur,
2Nimapara Autonomous College, Nimapara.
Corresponding Author: Prabhu Kaibalya Das
ABSTRACT
Purpose: At present “Cataract” is a major health issue in case of adults over 40 years. It was a cross sectional survey to determine the prevalence of cataract in rural areas of Ganjam in Odisha state of India.
Methods: Two villages of Ganjam district were selected for the survey. Total 765 participants were interviewed, from which 436 were male, and 329 were female.
Results: Prevalence of cataract was 24.71%. Among the sample population 13 people were bilaterally blind and 161 were suffering from low vision. The main obstacle to uptake cataract surgery was “poverty”. “Lack of awareness” was another noticeable factor which was affecting the prevalence of cataract.
Conclusion: It was concluded that “prevalence of cataract is directly proportional to the increasing age and it is still a major health issue in these rural populations”.
Key words: Cataract, Ganjam, Surgery, Obstacle, Poverty, Awareness.