title: Awareness of and Attitude towards glaucoma among an adult rural population of Osun State, Southwest Nigeria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To obtain baseline data and assess the level of awareness and attitudes towards glaucoma among rural communities of Osun State, Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a community-based study that involved interviews and descriptive cross-sectional analysis. Serial-recruitment was performed of consenting participants who presented at a community-based screening service in March 2011. Socio-demographic data and information about glaucoma were obtained through face-to-face semi-structured questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study population comprised 259 respondents (mean age 49.73 ± 16.6 years; range 18 to 90 years). There were 159 females (61.4%). Skilled workers were the most common 130/259 (50.3%) participants. Only 41 (15.8%; 95% CI: 11.4-20.2) participants had ever heard of glaucoma. Sources of information were from visits to an eye clinic for 21/41 (51.2%; 95% CI: 35.9-66.5) participants and 15/41 (36.6%) participants who know someone with glaucoma. Reponses to the causes of glaucoma included 20/41 (48.8%; 33.5-64.1) participant who said 'I don't know' and 24.4% of participants who responded 'curse-from-God'. Responses to questions on treatment included 20/41 (48.8%) participants who responded 'I don't know how it can be treated' and 10/41 (36.6%) said 'medically'. Thirty 30/41 (73.2%) participants would refuse surgery, half of them because 'it cannot cure or reverse the disease' while (26.7%) would refuse out of 'fear'. Only 8/41 (19.5%; 95% CI: 7.4-31.6) would accept surgery for maintenance. Statistically significant predictors of glaucoma awareness were older participants, males and skilled workers (teachers) (P = 0.028, P = 0.018, P = 0.0001, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The outcomes of study indicate a low level of awareness of glaucoma. Health education at all levels of health and eye care services is required to prevent ocular morbidity and irreversible blindness from glaucoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Ophthalmology Unit, College of Health Sciences, Osun State University, Oke-Baale, Osogbo, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Michaeline A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Isawumi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Ophthalmology Unit, College of Health Sciences, Osun State University, Oke-Baale, Osogbo, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Mustapha B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Osun State University, Oke-Baale, Osogbo, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Patience O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Akinwusi
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Osun State University, Oke-Baale, Osogbo, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Olalekan W
authors.initials: OW
authors.lastname: Adebimpe
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Osun State University, Oke-Baale, Osogbo, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Esther O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Asekun-Olarinmoye
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Osun State University, Oke-Baale, Osogbo, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Alebiosu C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Christopher
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, College of Health Sciences, Osun State University, Oke-Baale, Osogbo, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Taiwo A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Adewole
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adults; Attitudes; Awareness; Glaucoma; Rural