Evaluation of the Awareness on
Glaucoma in A Rural Eye Camp
in North Karnataka,India
1226-1228
Correspondence
Dr. Chaitra Pujar,
Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology,
S Nijalingappa Medical college, Navnagar,
Bagalkot, 587102, India.
Phone: 09980394289
E-mail: chaitrapujar@rediffmail.com
Purpose:
To assess the awareness on glaucoma in a rural eye camp in north Karnataka, India.
Materials and Methods:
A total of 100 subjects who were >20 years old, who attended an eye camp at Anwal village,in the Bagalkot district, north Karnataka,India, were enrolled into the study. The responses of the subjects (N=100) who completed a structured questionnaire regarding the awareness (heard of glaucoma) and the knowledge (understanding glaucoma) on glaucoma, formed the basis of this study.
Results:
The awareness on glaucoma was (n=13, 13%) poor in this rural eye camp. No significant difference was noted between the different age-groups (p=0.739) and between males and females (p=0.379). The awareness on glaucoma was significantly higher in the literates (p= 0.0061) and in the higher socio-economic groups (p=0.00003). A total of 5 subjects (n=5, 38.46%) knew that the visual loss due to glaucoma was permanent. The main sources of the awareness on glaucoma in this population were doctors for 5 patients (38.46%), TV/magazines/media for 4 (30.76%) patients, ophthalmologists for 2 (15.38%) patients and opticians for1 (7.69%) patients, followed by the information from a friend who suffered from this disease for 1 (7.69 %) patient.
Conclusion:
The awareness on glaucoma was poor in the rural area of the Anwal eye camp in Bagalkot district in north Karnataka, India. As compared to the previous studies, the awareness was better, due to improvement in the health care services over the years. Community based health education programmes go a long way in increasing the level of the awareness and the knowledge on glaucoma.