PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS OF VISUAL IMPAIRMENT AND BLINDNESS AT UNIVERSITY OF GONDAR TEACHING HOSPITAL, GONDAR, NORTHWEST ETHIOPIA

The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of visual impairment and blindness. Institutional based chart review was conducted from July to October, 2013. Systematic random sampling technique was used. A total of 784 client charts age greater than 14 years old from January 2012 to December, 2012 were included. Pre tested data extraction format used and it was checked for completeness, entered and analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. Both bi-variable and multivariable logistic regressions model were used. The degree of association between independent and dependent variables was assessed using odds ratio with 95% confidence interval and p value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. The prevalence of visual impairment and blindness was 15.3% and 14.4% respectively. Being male [AOR=1.715; 95%CI :1.064-2.765], cataract [AOR=6.972; 95% CI:3.417-14.228], refractive error [AOR= 11.023; 95% CI:5.632-21.575], glaucoma [AOR= 4.846; 95% CI:1.992-11.7840], age related macular degeneration [AOR=35.584; 95% CI:7.776-162.842] and pseudophakia [AOR=12.998; 95% CI:3.905-43.265] were significantly associated with visual impairment. Factors associated with blindness were cataract [AOR= 10.504; 95% CI: 5.372-20.5420], glaucoma [AOR=13.774; 95%CI: 6.145-30.876] and old patients [AOR=4.545; 95%CI: 1.812-11.401]. The prevalence of visual impairment and blindness were high. Priority and attention has to given for patients with cataract, glaucoma, refractive error, macular degeneration, pseudophakia and old age group.