title: Ocular injuries and eye care seeking patterns following injuries among cocoa farmers in Ghana.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The work environment of cocoa farmers exposes them to several ocular hazards that predispose them to eye diseases and injuries. However, the extent of ocular injuries and health seeking patterns following these injuries are unknown among cocoa farmers in Ghana.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of ocular injuries and health seeking behaviour following injury among cocoa farmers in Ghana.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five hundred and fifty six participants were recruited through simple random sampling using a multistage approach from four cocoa growing districts in Ghana. A structured questionnaire was used to collect relevant information such as demography, ocular hazards and injuries experienced. An ocular examination was also conducted to assess the eye health of the participants. Descriptive and regression statistics were used to analyze the data. The rate of ocular injuries was calculated by using the number of injuries reported that resulted in lost work time/days divided by the number of worker years at risk of injury (sum of years worked in cocoa farms for all the participants).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rate of ocular injuries was 11.3/1000 worker years (95% CI: 9.4 - 31) which led to lost work time of 37.3/1000 worker years (95% CI: 34.1 - 40.8). The major causes of ocular injury were plants/branches (n=73, 51.1%), chemicals (n=27, 18.9%), cocoa pod/husk (n=14, 9.8%) and occurred mostly during weeding, harvesting and chemical spraying. Few (n=34, 6.1%) participants reported the use of ocular protection. Fifty-five (38.5%) participants visited the local chemical shops, while 37 (25.9%) visited hospitals/clinics for ocular treatment of their injuries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a high rate of ocular injuries among cocoa farmers who make insufficient use of appropriate eye care services. There is the need for eye health education among cocoa farmers in Ghana.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Optometry, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4000, South Africa. Private Bag X54001; Department of Optometry, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana. PMB.
authors.forename: Boadi-Kusi Samuel
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Bert
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Optometry, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4000, South Africa. Private Bag X54001.
authors.forename: Hansraj
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rekha
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Optometry, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4000, South Africa. Private Bag X54001.
authors.forename: Mashige Khathutshelo
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Percy
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D002099:Cacao; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005135:Eye Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000067565:Farmers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Ocular injuries; cocoa farmers; eye care services; ocular protective device