title: Prevalence and risk indicators of myopia among schoolchildren in Amman, Jordan.
abstract: We aimed to identify the prevalence and risk factors of myopia among secondary-school students in Amman. Thus 1777 (1081 males and 696 females) students aged 12-17 years old were recruited from 8 schools randomly selected from 8 different geographic locations in Amman. Data were collected by questionnaire, and self-reported myopia was checked against school medical records. The prevalence of myopia was 17.6%, with no significant difference between males and females after adjusting for other possible variables. Myopia was significantly associated with age, family history of myopia, computer use, and reading and writing outside school. Playing sports was inversely associated with myopia but there was no association with watching television.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Science & Technology, Irbid, Jordan. yousef.k@excite.com
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Khader
authors.forename: W Q
authors.initials: WQ
authors.lastname: Batayha
authors.forename: S M I
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Abdul-Aziz
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Al-Shiekh-Khalil
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D003201:Computers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007597:Jordan / Q000453:epidemiology; D007899:Leisure Activities; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009216:Myopia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D011932:Reading; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*