title: Knowledge, attitude, practice and associated factors towards spectacles use among adults in Gondar town, northwest Ethiopia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Refractive error is the main cause of visual impairment in the world. Spectacles are the most frequently used options for correcting refractive errors. In addition, they can be used for protection and fashion. It is the simplest, cheapest and only method used in developing countries like Ethiopia. This study aims to explore the knowledge, attitude, practice and associated factors towards spectacles use among adult population of Gondar town, northwest Ethiopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community based cross sectional study was conducted on 780 participants using a pre-tested structured questionnaire in Gondar. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 20 version computer software. Association and strength between variables was determined using odds ratio with 95 % confidence interval.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 780 study subjects participated in this study. The male to female ratio was 1:2.4. The median age of the participants was 29 (±22 IQR) with a range of 18-86 years. About fifty percent of participants were married and 284 (36.4 %) were educated up to secondary school. Seven hundred and three (90.6 %) participants had adequate knowledge about spectacles and 90.4 % had favorable attitude towards spectacle use. About 25 % of the participants have been using spectacles during the study. Participants with primary school education (AOR: 2.79, 95 % CI 1.20-6.50) had good knowledge about spectacles. Housewives (AOR = 3.40, 95 % CI; 1.35-8.54) and participants who unable to read and write (AOR: 3.51, 95 % CI 14-10.72) had favorable attitude towards spectacles use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gondar town adult population has adequate knowledge and favorable attitude towards spectacles. However, practice of spectacles use is poor. Eye health education related to spectacles utilization need to be given due emphasis by eye care professionals in collaboration with University of Gondar and Gondar town administration.
authors: Department of Optometry, College of Medicine and Health Science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia. alexkd2003@gmail.com.
authors: Alemayehu
authors: A
authors: Desalegn
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine and Health Science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
authors: Asamer
authors: A
authors: Tsegaw
authors: Department of Optometry, College of Medicine and Health Science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
authors: Destaye
authors: D
authors: Shiferaw
authors: Department of Optometry, College of Medicine and Health Science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
authors: Haile
authors: H
authors: Woretaw
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005002:Ethiopia; D005139:Eyeglasses; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Attitude; Gondar; Knowledge; Practice; Spectacles