RESUMO
Context: Childhood ocular disorders can seriously impact on development and education, future employment opportunities and quality of life, their consequences are especially severe in low resource settings. There is a lack of data on pattern and prevalence of ocular morbidities among children in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the pattern and magnitude of childhood ocular disorders in children in Kinshasa, the capital city of DRC. Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted from July to August 2017. Children aged less than 16 years old were screened by volunteers in households and those with ocular pathologies were examined by two ophthalmologists. Prevalence and pattern of ocular diseases were determined. Results: A total of 4307 households were visited by the surveyors and 13,197 children were screened. Ocular pathologies were diagnosed among 399 children. Girls represented 50.7% of the children and the mean age ± SD was 9.2 ± 4.1 years. The overall prevalence of ocular morbidity in our population was 3.6% [95% CI 3.3-3.9]. Allergic conjunctivitis was the most frequent pathology (56.2%) followed by refractive errors (27.4%) and strabismus (5%). Age of children was the only risk factor with a significant impact on the frequency of ocular pathology. Forty-five percent of children had never benefited from any treatment, self-medication, and recourse to traditional treatments concerned respectively 18.%, and 2.3% of children. Conclusion: Childhood ocular morbidity in Kinshasa city was dominated by allergic conjunctivitis and refractive errors. The frequency of these conditions varies depending on the age of the children. Very few parents consult medical staff when their children have ocular problems, ignorance and limited financial resources are the principal barriers to consult.
RESUMO
Purpose: To determine the magnitude and causes of blindness and low vision in children in Kinshasa.Methods: A study was conducted to carry out a survey in 96 health areas in Kinshasa city. Children aged less than 16 years old with supposed visual problems (Visual acuity < 6/18) were identified by volunteers and surveyors in households and were thereafter examined by two ophthalmologists. Prevalence and causes of blindness and low vision were determined. For each child, anatomic sites of abnormality, etiologic factors and avoidable causes responsible for visual impairment were considered.Results: Thirty-six children with bilateral visual impairment were identified, including 10 cases of blindness and 26 cases of low vision. The prevalence of blindness and low vision was, respectively, 0.08% [95% CI 0.04-0.14] and 0.19% [95% CI 0.13-0.28].Optic nerve and whole globe were the main anatomical sites responsible for blindness in, respectively, in 30% and 20%. Optic nerve atrophy and glaucoma were the leading causes of childhood blindness. The globe apparently normal (50%), uvea (12%) and cornea (12%) were the most common anatomic site responsible for low vision with refractive errors (42%) and uveitis (12%) as the main causes. Childhood and hereditary factors accounted for, respectively, 16.7% and 13.9% of low vision cases. Visual impairment was due to avoidable causes in 69.4% of children.Conclusion: Damage to the optic nerve and refractive errors were respectively the maincauses of blindness and low vision among children in Kinshasa.