Cataracts in rural areas in Togo: awareness and attitudes.
To assess the prevalence of senile cataracts and the awareness and attitudes of patients with them in a rural area in Togo. We conducted a 10-weeks cross-sectional ophthalmic screening in the prefecture of VO, 57 km from Lomé, which sought to include individuals aged 50 years and older living in the study area. All patients underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic examination. Of the 3111 patients expected, 767 came for the examination, for a participation rate of 24.6%. The sex ratio was 0.8, and the patients' mean age was 60.1 ± 8.7 years. The frequency of senile cataracts was 40.28%. Women had cataracts more often than men, with a sex ratio of 0.63. The frequency of unilateral blindness was 1.62% and 22% for bilateral blindness related to cataracts. Almost every participant (99.7%) knew the disease named cataract, but fewer than half (41.59%) knew its causes. Most patients (97.09%) accepted the idea of cataract surgery, but the lack of financial resources was a major barrier to it (64.72%). The frequency of senile cataracts is high in rural area. Decentralization of eye care is essential to give the right to sight to the population living in these areas.
Service d'ophtalmologie, CHU Sylvanus Olympio, Lomé, Faculté des sciences de la santé, université de Lomé, BP 13648 Lomé, Togo.
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Vonor
Service d'ophtalmologie, CHU de Kara, Kara, Togo.
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Amedome
Service d'ophtalmologie, CHU Sylvanus Olympio, Lomé.
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Dzidzinyo
Service d'ophtalmologie, CHU Sylvanus Olympio, Lomé.
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Koutolbena
Service d'ophtalmologie, CHU Campus, Lomé, Togo.
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Banla
Service d'ophtalmologie, CHU Sylvanus Olympio, Lomé.
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Balo
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002386:Cataract / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014037:Togo / Q000453:epidemiology
Togo; blindness; rural area; senile cataract