부산대학교 도서관

Background: The background of this study is to determine the awareness about health seeking behaviour (HSB) in parents of visually impaired children in a population-based study. Methods: The study was conducted in population <16 years in urban area of North India. A total of 20,955 (97.3%) children underwent visual acuity examination. Of these, 789 children were referred to the centrally based clinic with unaided visual acuity <6/12 in any eye for undergoing detailed ophthalmic examination. Results: Along with ocular examination, the parents of these 789 referred children, were interviewed for the questions related to HSB, the most common ocular symptom known to them was redness of eyes followed by watering and diminution of vision, 249 (34.6%) denied for any ocular problem in their children previously, amongst the remaining 469 parents/care takers with any ocular problem, a total of 367 (51.1%) referred children wore glasses and the proportion of parents wearing glasses was similar amongst these children (11.7% fathers and 11% mothers). Amongst the 118 respondents of visually impaired children (presenting visual acuity less than 6/18 in better eye with available correction), 56 (47.5%) denied for any ocular problem in their children previously, of the remaining 62 (52.5%), parents, 58 (93.5%) had consulted various healthcare agencies, 45.8% of the respondents reported not said that their children wore glasses prescribed to them. Only 24 (20.3%) respondents were aware that Vitamin A is good for eye health. Discussion: Diminution of vision, watering and redness of eyes were the most common ocular symptoms known to parents of referred children. HSB can be further improved via primary healthcare physicians by primary healthcare creating awareness about importance of wearing glasses and healthy diet in parents of visually impaired children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]