title: Gender disparity in delayed treatment-seeking behavior for cataract: 6 years of experience from Impact Jibon Tari Floating Hospital, Bangladesh.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to explore the role of gender in delayed treatment seeking for cataract at the Impact Jibon Tari Floating Hospital in rural Bangladesh.
  
  
  METHODS
  Existing clinical records were analyzed for patient characteristics based on sex and the role of gender in delayed cataract surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 11 174 patients (41.7% female) received surgical treatment for cataract, among which 69.9% (male = 67.7%; female = 73.2%) had visual acuity (VA) of less than 6/60. After adjustment for hypertension, diabetes, side of eye with cataract, and age above 65, women were more likely to come to surgery after VA became less than 6/60 (adjusted odds ratio = 1.19; 95% confidence interval = 1.1-1.29).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gender appeared to play a role in seeking treatment at later stages of cataract. Further qualitative studies are needed to determine the mechanism of delayed treatment among women.
authors.affiliation: Impact Foundation Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh tanchangya81@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Joydhan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tanchangya
authors.affiliation: Impact Foundation Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Ruhul Amin
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Impact Foundation Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh State Research Center on Maternal and Child Health and Human Reproduction (MCH Center), Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
authors.forename: Sanchir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bayasakh
authors.affiliation: Impact Foundation Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Wit
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wichaidit
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001459:Bangladesh; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012424:Rural Population; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014792:Visual Acuity