Abstract
Purpose: :
To verify the acceptance and factors related to spectacle-use compliance in low-income South Brazilian children, and its effect on scholar activities performance.
Methods: :
In 2007, 2,473 children attending local elementary schools in Almirante Tamandaré city underwent a screening ophthalmologic examination including: medical interview and Snellen visual acuity (VA) test. Children with VA of ≤ 20/30 in both eyes, or VA < 20/40 in the worst eye were submitted a complete ophthalmologic examination, including cycloplegic retinoscopy. 303 (12.3%) children had VA worse than 20/40 in at least one eye, and 156 (6.3%) of them were considered to have ametropies that required spectacles correction, which were provided at no cost. Ten months after the spectacles were delivered to the children, a standard interview was performed with the children, and standard questionnaires were submitted to their parents and teachers.
Results: :
A total of 95/156 (60.9%) children could be located and interviewed. Children who were interviewed tended to be younger than non-interviewed children (8.5±1.7 vs. 9.7±1.9 years, p<0.001), but there were no difference regarding gender (p=0.90) or race (p=0.98). 72 (75.8%) of the parents and teacher’s questionnaires were returned. Seventy children (73.7%) reported to be wearing the prescribed spectacles, and 66 (94.3%) of them reported improved performance in school related activities, which was confirmed in 57 (81.4%) cases by the parents and 48 (68.6%) cases by the teachers. 25 (26.3%) children were not using spectacles. The reasons for spectacle-use non-compliance reported by the children were: loss of spectacles (40%), not getting used to wear glasses (64%), spectacles frame hurt or bothered them (24.3%), unattractive spectacles frame (13.5%). Non-compliance to use spectacles was not associated to gender, age, type or level of ametropia or uncorrected VA (p<0.63, logistic regression).
Conclusions: :
In this study, spectacle-use compliance was moderate, even when spectacles were provided at no costs. Most of children using prescribed spectacles reported improved performance of school related activities. Education about the need to use spectacles, continuous technical support assistance, and even psychological assistance could enhance spectacle-use compliance in children from low-income population.
Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: health care delivery/economics/manpower • spectacle lens • visual development: infancy and childhood