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Low Vision among Students Attending Schools for Blind Students in Two States of North-Central Nigeria

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Title: Low Vision among Students Attending Schools for Blind Students in Two States of North-Central Nigeria
Language: English
Authors: Ruth Jeneral Alfin (ORCID 0000-0002-6529-4551), Fatima Hudu Umar (ORCID 0000-0003-1090-3601), Fwangshak Guar, Patricia Eseigbe, Sunday Lengmang
Source: Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness. 2024 118(5):349-360.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 12
Publication Date: 2024
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Blindness, Partial Vision, Students with Disabilities, Special Schools, Foreign Countries, Assistive Technology, Incidence, Influences, Visual Impairments, Children, Adolescents, Adults, Human Body
Geographic Terms: Nigeria
DOI: 10.1177/0145482X241289871
ISSN: 0145-482X
1559-1476
Abstract: Introduction: Surveys conducted in schools for blind students have become useful alternatives to population-based surveys in generating data on childhood blindness and low vision. This survey determined the prevalence of low vision, causes of visual impairment, and the proportion of students requiring low vision devices and provided the low vision devices required. Methods: The study was conducted in three schools for blind students in two states of north-central Nigeria. The standard examination protocol of the World Health Organization's Prevention of Blindness and Low Vision for Children (WHO, 2005) was used to interview and assess participants. The causes of visual impairment were categorized using the definitions in the coding instruments (WHO, 1988). Results: The study examined 170 eyes of 85 students between 7 and 49 years of age with a male-to-female ratio of 1.4:1. Of the 83 (97.6%) students with visual impairments, 59 (69.4%) of them had low vision. The major anatomical sites of vision loss by eyes were the whole globe (n = 84, 55.3%), followed by the lens (n = 23, 15.1%) and the retina (n = 21, 13.8%). Overall, the leading causes of visual impairment in eyes were glaucoma (n = 52, 34.2%), retinitis pigmentosa (n = 21, 13.8%), phthisis bulbi (n = 16, 10.5%), cataract (n = 14, 9.2%), and keratoconus (n = 10, 6.6%). A total of 37 (43.5%) students were prescribed optical low vision devices, and 28 (32.9%) received non-optical low vision devices. Discussion: A large number of the students in this study had low vision. They were prescribed and provided the low vision devices required. The causes of visual impairment were a mix of the patterns seen in both developing and developed countries. The finding of glaucoma as a more important cause of vision loss calls for improved efforts in screening, early detection, and treatment of glaucoma among children. Implications for Practitioners: Routine comprehensive visual assessment, refraction, and low vision assessment before enrollment will guard against improper school placements and enhance optimization of vision for those with low vision.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2024
Accession Number: EJ1448981
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Low Vision among Students Attending Schools for Blind Students in Two States of North-Central Nigeria
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ruth+Jeneral+Alfin%22">Ruth Jeneral Alfin</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6529-4551">0000-0002-6529-4551</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Fatima+Hudu+Umar%22">Fatima Hudu Umar</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1090-3601">0000-0003-1090-3601</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Fwangshak+Guar%22">Fwangshak Guar</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Patricia+Eseigbe%22">Patricia Eseigbe</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sunday+Lengmang%22">Sunday Lengmang</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Visual+Impairment+%26+Blindness%22"><i>Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness</i></searchLink>. 2024 118(5):349-360.
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  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
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  Data: 12
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Blindness%22">Blindness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Partial+Vision%22">Partial Vision</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Students+with+Disabilities%22">Students with Disabilities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Special+Schools%22">Special Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Assistive+Technology%22">Assistive Technology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Incidence%22">Incidence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Influences%22">Influences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Visual+Impairments%22">Visual Impairments</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Children%22">Children</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adolescents%22">Adolescents</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adults%22">Adults</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Human+Body%22">Human Body</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Nigeria%22">Nigeria</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
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  Data: 10.1177/0145482X241289871
– Name: ISSN
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  Data: 0145-482X<br />1559-1476
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Introduction: Surveys conducted in schools for blind students have become useful alternatives to population-based surveys in generating data on childhood blindness and low vision. This survey determined the prevalence of low vision, causes of visual impairment, and the proportion of students requiring low vision devices and provided the low vision devices required. Methods: The study was conducted in three schools for blind students in two states of north-central Nigeria. The standard examination protocol of the World Health Organization's Prevention of Blindness and Low Vision for Children (WHO, 2005) was used to interview and assess participants. The causes of visual impairment were categorized using the definitions in the coding instruments (WHO, 1988). Results: The study examined 170 eyes of 85 students between 7 and 49 years of age with a male-to-female ratio of 1.4:1. Of the 83 (97.6%) students with visual impairments, 59 (69.4%) of them had low vision. The major anatomical sites of vision loss by eyes were the whole globe (n = 84, 55.3%), followed by the lens (n = 23, 15.1%) and the retina (n = 21, 13.8%). Overall, the leading causes of visual impairment in eyes were glaucoma (n = 52, 34.2%), retinitis pigmentosa (n = 21, 13.8%), phthisis bulbi (n = 16, 10.5%), cataract (n = 14, 9.2%), and keratoconus (n = 10, 6.6%). A total of 37 (43.5%) students were prescribed optical low vision devices, and 28 (32.9%) received non-optical low vision devices. Discussion: A large number of the students in this study had low vision. They were prescribed and provided the low vision devices required. The causes of visual impairment were a mix of the patterns seen in both developing and developed countries. The finding of glaucoma as a more important cause of vision loss calls for improved efforts in screening, early detection, and treatment of glaucoma among children. Implications for Practitioners: Routine comprehensive visual assessment, refraction, and low vision assessment before enrollment will guard against improper school placements and enhance optimization of vision for those with low vision.
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1177/0145482X241289871
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
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        PageCount: 12
        StartPage: 349
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Blindness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Partial Vision
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Students with Disabilities
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Special Schools
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      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
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      – SubjectFull: Influences
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      – SubjectFull: Visual Impairments
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      – SubjectFull: Children
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      – SubjectFull: Adolescents
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      – SubjectFull: Adults
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      – SubjectFull: Human Body
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      – SubjectFull: Nigeria
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    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Low Vision among Students Attending Schools for Blind Students in Two States of North-Central Nigeria
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              M: 09
              Type: published
              Y: 2024
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