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Abstract #6611 Published in IGR 4-1
Visual loss in urban and rural chronic glaucoma patients in Ghana
Ntim Amponsah CTTropical Doctor 2002; 32: 102-104
The visual acuity of newly diagnosed glaucoma patients in a rural and an urban area were compared in a hospital-based cross-sectional study in Ghana. Age at presentation was strikingly higher in the rural group due to local factors which result in a difference-in-age structure of the rural and urban population. The crude relative frequency of bilateral blindness was significantly higher for rural than for urban. However, with age-adjusted relative frequencies for bilateral blindness, there was no significant difference between rural and urban patients. However, there was significant difference between them for those aged 51-71 years when blindness in one or both eyes were considered together. There was more consistent blindness in the rural community: the difference was attributed to local factors such as better access to eye care in the urban group.
Dr. C.T. Ntim Aponsah, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra, Ghana. cnamponsah@hotmail.com
Classification:
1.5 Glaucomas as cause of blindness (Part of: 1 General aspects)
