title: Increasing access to cataract surgery in a rural area--a support strategy.
abstract: The objectives of the study were to elicit the reasons for not undergoing cataract surgery from those having cataract, aged 50 years and above, in a village community and, develop, implement and assess a support strategy for getting cataract surgery done. The leading reasons identified were monetary constraints (18.8%), transport difficulty (17.4%), lack of awareness about cataract in the eyes (17.4%) and lack of escort (14.5%). Based on the identified reasons, patients were transported in groups to a government eye hospital for free surgery after completion of required pre operative formalities at the village health center itself. Out of 65 eligible individuals, 66.2% underwent surgery. The success of the approach was evident by perceived improvement in vision in 88.4% operated patients, occurrence of only few minor complications and a satisfactory hospital experience being reported by all.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi. drrahulmalhotra@yahoo.com
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Malhotra
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Uppal
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Misra
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Taneja
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Ingle
mesh_terms: D002387:Cataract Extraction; D005260:Female; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012424:Rural Population; D014186:Transportation