Visual Impairment and Associated Factors among Adult Patients Attending the Eye Clinic of Public Hospitals in Ambo Town, West Shoa zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Many people are living with visual impairments which most of them are preventable but have not yet solved. Studies done in Ethiopia mainly focused on visual impairment among children, giving less attention to visual impairment among adults. Despite the fact that visual impairment remains a problem among adults in Ethiopia, few studies have been conducted to identify the magnitude of the problem as well as the factors that contribute to it. Objective: To assess the magnitude of visual impairment and its associated factors among adult patients attending eye clinics in Public Hospitals in Ambo Town, West Shoa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia, in 2023. Methods: An Institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 392 adult people attending Eye Clinics in Public Hospitals in Ambo Town by Systematic random sampling technique. The study was conducted from August 1st to October 30th, 2023. Multivariate binary logistic regression with 95% Confidence Interval was computed to control confounding variables and to identify associated factors of visual impairment, and in which statistical significance was declared at a p value <0.05. Result: Three hundred eighty five (385) study participants were involved in this study, giving a response rate of 98.12%. The magnitude of visual impairment among the study respondents was 158 (41 %;95% CI:36,41).Being in age category 40-64 years (AOR:1.92; 95% CI:1.09,3.37), being in age category 65 years and above (AOR:6.83; 95% CI:3.11,14.96), using a smart phone (AOR:0.27; 95% CI:0.14,0.51), having cataracts (AOR:9.59; 95% CI:2.14,42.96), having corneal opacity (AOR:4.03; 95% CI:1.07,15.22), and age-related . macular degeneration (AOR:5.86; 95% CI:1.01,34.17) were factors statistically associated with visual impairment. Conclusion and Recommendation: In this study, the magnitude of the visual impairment of the study respondents was 41%. Age of respondents, using a smart phone, having cataracts, having corneal opacity, and age-related macular degeneration were significantly associated with visual impairment. Early detection and intervention for patients with visual impairments is critical.