Prevalence of refractive error among school-aged children in Sylhet division of Bangladesh
Abstract Background According to recent statistics from WHO, 150 million people globally have visual impairments caused by uncorrected refractive errors. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence rate of refractive error in Bangladesh's urban, rural, and marginalized populations (tea gardens)...
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Springer
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Discover Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-00675-7 |
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| author | Enayet Hussain Ava Hossain Saidur Rahman Mashreky Eija Viitasara Koustuv Dalal |
| author_facet | Enayet Hussain Ava Hossain Saidur Rahman Mashreky Eija Viitasara Koustuv Dalal |
| author_sort | Enayet Hussain |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background According to recent statistics from WHO, 150 million people globally have visual impairments caused by uncorrected refractive errors. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence rate of refractive error in Bangladesh's urban, rural, and marginalized populations (tea gardens). Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted among all school-going children (Class I-X) aged 5 to 18. The study adopted the stratified cluster sampling method to recruit study subjects. A pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire was used for face-to-face interviews. Trained optometrists carried out vision screening and refraction to identify children with vision impairment. Results The prevalence of refractive error is 5.3 per 100 population in which myopia is the most common form of refractive error found in 125 (78.6%, 95% CI: 77.1–80.1), followed by astigmatism in 20 (12.6%, 95% CI: 11.4–13.8) and the rest of the cases are hyperopia among 14 (8.8%, 95% CI: 7.8–9.8) children. At the time of the vision screening, only 25 (15.7%) children using spectacles were found. The study findings also showed that urban areas had the highest percentage of refractive error (9.9%), and rural and tea gardens had 3.9% and 2.1% refractive error, respectively. Refractive error was relatively higher among girls’ (AOR = 1.5, p < 0.01, 95%CI: 1.07–2.11) in comparison with boys’ and the percentage of refractive error was three times higher within the secondary school-going children (AOR = 3.2, p < 0.01, 95%CI: 1.23–8.08) compared to primary school children. Conclusion The prevalence of refractive error was higher in the above-ten-year-old age group and significantly lower in rural and tea garden populations. To resolve these challenges, an assortment of comprehensive strategies must be implemented. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6900d9b2f8074409b17de946c322954d |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 3005-0774 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
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| series | Discover Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-6900d9b2f8074409b17de946c322954d2025-08-20T02:29:26ZengSpringerDiscover Public Health3005-07742025-05-0122111010.1186/s12982-025-00675-7Prevalence of refractive error among school-aged children in Sylhet division of BangladeshEnayet Hussain0Ava Hossain1Saidur Rahman Mashreky2Eija Viitasara3Koustuv Dalal4Division of Public Health Science, Department of Health Sciences, Mid Sweden UniversityOSB Eye Hospital and InstituteDepartment of Public Health, North South UniversityDivision of Public Health Science, Department of Health Sciences, Mid Sweden UniversityDivision of Public Health Science, Department of Health Sciences, Mid Sweden UniversityAbstract Background According to recent statistics from WHO, 150 million people globally have visual impairments caused by uncorrected refractive errors. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence rate of refractive error in Bangladesh's urban, rural, and marginalized populations (tea gardens). Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted among all school-going children (Class I-X) aged 5 to 18. The study adopted the stratified cluster sampling method to recruit study subjects. A pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire was used for face-to-face interviews. Trained optometrists carried out vision screening and refraction to identify children with vision impairment. Results The prevalence of refractive error is 5.3 per 100 population in which myopia is the most common form of refractive error found in 125 (78.6%, 95% CI: 77.1–80.1), followed by astigmatism in 20 (12.6%, 95% CI: 11.4–13.8) and the rest of the cases are hyperopia among 14 (8.8%, 95% CI: 7.8–9.8) children. At the time of the vision screening, only 25 (15.7%) children using spectacles were found. The study findings also showed that urban areas had the highest percentage of refractive error (9.9%), and rural and tea gardens had 3.9% and 2.1% refractive error, respectively. Refractive error was relatively higher among girls’ (AOR = 1.5, p < 0.01, 95%CI: 1.07–2.11) in comparison with boys’ and the percentage of refractive error was three times higher within the secondary school-going children (AOR = 3.2, p < 0.01, 95%CI: 1.23–8.08) compared to primary school children. Conclusion The prevalence of refractive error was higher in the above-ten-year-old age group and significantly lower in rural and tea garden populations. To resolve these challenges, an assortment of comprehensive strategies must be implemented.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-00675-7Refractive errorChildrenEye healthLMICsBangladesh |
| spellingShingle | Enayet Hussain Ava Hossain Saidur Rahman Mashreky Eija Viitasara Koustuv Dalal Prevalence of refractive error among school-aged children in Sylhet division of Bangladesh Discover Public Health Refractive error Children Eye health LMICs Bangladesh |
| title | Prevalence of refractive error among school-aged children in Sylhet division of Bangladesh |
| title_full | Prevalence of refractive error among school-aged children in Sylhet division of Bangladesh |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence of refractive error among school-aged children in Sylhet division of Bangladesh |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence of refractive error among school-aged children in Sylhet division of Bangladesh |
| title_short | Prevalence of refractive error among school-aged children in Sylhet division of Bangladesh |
| title_sort | prevalence of refractive error among school aged children in sylhet division of bangladesh |
| topic | Refractive error Children Eye health LMICs Bangladesh |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-00675-7 |
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