Ophthalmic services utilisation and associated factors in the Ashanti region, Ghana.
Ghana Med J
; 57(1): 58-65, 2023 Jan.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37576369
ABSTRACT
Objective:
This survey determined the utilisation of eye care services and associated factors among adults in the Ashanti region of Ghana.Design:
A population-based cross-sectional descriptive study.Method:
Data for this study was collected from 1615 randomly selected individuals in the Ashanti region of Ghana, using a structured, pretested interviewer-guided questionnaire. Information regarding the accessibility and determinants of, and barriers to, eye care services was based on self-reports, using the WHO Eye Care Services Assessment Questionnaire. Inferential analyses were performed using the chi-square test for statistical significance, set at p=0.05.Setting:
Ashanti Region, Ghana.Participants:
One thousand six hundred and fifteen randomly selected adults.Results:
Public eye care facilities were used by 58.2% of the participants for their last eye exam. Of the participants, 47.0% had travelled less than five kilometres for their last eye exam. Waiting time and service cost were participants' most frequently cited challenges in seeking care. No need felt (40.1%), self-medication (37.7%) and cost (22.2%) were the most frequently mentioned barriers to seeking ophthalmic services.Conclusion:
The major challenges encountered in seeking eye care services were waiting time and cost of service. Major barriers to ophthalmic services utilisation were no need felt, self-medication and cost. Factors such as cost, lack of felt need and self-medication, which serve as barriers to utilising eye care services, should be addressed by stake-holders through eye health education and promotion.Funding:
None declared.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Temas:
ECOS
/
Estado_mercado_regulacao
Bases de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Utilização de Instalações e Serviços
/
Acessibilidade aos Serviços de Saúde
Tipo de estudo:
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Qualitative_research
/
Risk_factors_studies
Aspecto:
Determinantes_sociais_saude
Limite:
Adult
/
Humans
País/Região como assunto:
Africa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Ghana Med J
Ano de publicação:
2023
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
África do Sul