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The Appointment System Influences Uptake of Cataract Surgical Services in Rwanda.
Kitema, Gatera Fiston; Morjaria, Priya; Mathenge, Wanjiku; Ramke, Jacqueline.
Affiliation
  • Kitema GF; Ophthalmology Department, School of Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali 4285, Rwanda.
  • Morjaria P; International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK.
  • Mathenge W; Rwanda International Institute of Ophthalmology (RIIO), Kigali 4285, Rwanda.
  • Ramke J; International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK.
Article in En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33467193
The aim of this study was to investigate barriers and enablers associated with the uptake of cataract surgery in Rwanda, where financial protection is almost universally available. This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study where potential participants were adults aged >18 years who accepted an appointment for cataract surgery during the study period (May-July 2019). Information was collected from hospital records and a semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Of the 297 people with surgery appointments, 221 (74.4%) were recruited into the study, 126 (57.0%) of whom had attended their appointment. People more likely to attend their surgical appointment were literate, had fewer than 8 children, had poorer visual acuity, had access to a telephone in the family, received a specific date to attend their appointment, received a reminder, and reported no difficulties walking (95% significance level, p < 0.05). The most commonly reported barriers were insufficient information about the appointment (n = 40/68, 58.8%) and prohibitive indirect costs (n = 29/68, 42.6%). This study suggests that clear communication of appointment information and a subsequent reminder, together with additional support for people with limited mobility, are strategies that could improve uptake of cataract surgery in Rwanda.
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Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Appointments and Schedules / Cataract / Cataract Extraction / Health Services Accessibility Type of study: Observational_studies / Prevalence_studies / Qualitative_research / Risk_factors_studies Aspects: Determinantes_sociais_saude / Equity_inequality / Implementation_research Limits: Adolescent / Adult / Aged / Child / Humans Country/Region as subject: Africa Language: En Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Year: 2021 Document type: Article Affiliation country: Country of publication:

Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Appointments and Schedules / Cataract / Cataract Extraction / Health Services Accessibility Type of study: Observational_studies / Prevalence_studies / Qualitative_research / Risk_factors_studies Aspects: Determinantes_sociais_saude / Equity_inequality / Implementation_research Limits: Adolescent / Adult / Aged / Child / Humans Country/Region as subject: Africa Language: En Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Year: 2021 Document type: Article Affiliation country: Country of publication: