Awareness of glaucoma in the rural population of Southern India.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the awareness of glaucoma amongst the rural population of Andhra Pradesh, India.


METHODS
A total of 7775 subjects of all ages, representative of the rural population of Andhra Pradesh, participated in the Andhra Pradesh Eye Disease Study. The responses of subjects older than 15 years (n=5573) who completed a structured questionnaire regarding awareness (heard of glaucoma) and knowledge (understanding of disease) of glaucoma formed the basis of this study.


RESULTS
Awareness of glaucoma (n=18; 0.32%) was very poor in this rural population, and females were significantly less aware (p=0.007). Awareness of glaucoma was also significantly less among illiterate persons (p<0.0001), and socially backward population (p<0.0001). Majority of the respondents who were aware of glaucoma (n=10; 55.6%) did not know if visual loss due to glaucoma was permanent or reversible. The major source of awareness of glaucoma in this population was TV/magazines and other media followed by information from a relative or acquaintance suffering from the disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Awareness of glaucoma is very poor in the rural areas of southern India. The data suggest the need for community-based health education programmes to increase the level of awareness and knowledge about glaucoma.
Krishnaiah
Sannapaneni
S
International Centre for Advancement of Rural Eye Care, L. V. Prasad Eye Institute, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad - 500 034, India. krishnaiah@lvpei.org
Kovai
Vilas
V
Srinivas
Marmamula
M
Shamanna
Bindiganavale R
BR
Rao
Gullapalli N
GN
Thomas
Ravi
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001364:Awareness; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012424:Rural Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires