Abstract:
Background: Visual impairment is a functional limitation of the eye(s) or the visual system and can
manifest as reduced visual acuity. According to the world health organization report 2020, approximately
91 million children are estimated to be visually impaired worldwide and 90% of people with visual
impairment have either preventable or treatable cause with cost- effective intervention.
Objective: To assess the magnitude of visual impairment and associated factors among primary school
children of Ambo Town, West Shoa Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia, 2021.
Methods: School-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the selected primary school of Ambo
town. Simple random sampling was used to select schools and study participants. Data were collected
using an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. Data were entered in to Epidata version 3.1
and analyzed by using SPSS version 23. Bi-variable binary logistic regression analysis was conducted and
variables with p-values of <0.25 were included in the multivariable binary logistic regression analysis
model. Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was done to explain the association between
independent variable and visual impairment. AOR with 95% CI at p-value <0.05 in multivariable binary
logistic regression analysis factors were identified as having statistically significant association with the
visual impairment. The Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test was used to assess the fitness of the final
model and the model is fit at p-value of 0.48.
Result: A total of 838 primary school children were enrolled to the study giving response rate of 93.07%.
The magnitude of visual impairment was 69 (8.8 %; 95%CI: 6.81-10.79). Refractive error was the main
cause of the impairment in 46 (54.76%) students. Grade level of student (AOR=2.375 95%CI: 1.079-
5.226), Mobile exposure (AOR=0.38 CI: 0.2-0.71), awareness of child eye problem (4.503 95%CI; 2.12-
9.55) and family history (AOR=2.41 95%CI; 1.071-5.42) were variables significantly associated with
visual impairment among primary school children of Ambo Town.
Conclusion and Recommendation:
Magnitude of visual impairment is high among school children of Ambo primary schools. High grade
level, mobile exposure, awareness of child eye problem and family history were variables significantly
associated with visual impairment. Regular vision screenings are needed.
