Kebiasaan dan Pengetahuan Masyarakat Usia Produktif Mengenai Kesehatan Mata Selama Pandemi Covid-19

COVID-19 pandemic requires the community to adapt and limit their activities to minimize the transmission of COVID-19. This policy increasing the use of gadgets, which can affect eye health. The purpose of this study is to determine the level of public knowledge about eye health while using gadgets before and after receiving education and to determine the relationship between habitual electronic device use and Computer Vision Syndrome. The design of this research is analytic observational. Data were obtained from questionnaires given before and after education regarding eye health when using gadgets during WFH. Data were analyzed descriptively and presented in frequency table and statistical analysis will be conducted using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test, Chi-Square and Contingency Coefficients. The mean scores at pre-test and post-test were 4.84±1.65 and 6.10±1.77, respectively, representing a significant increase in knowledge of eye health by 26.0% (p= 0.000). Habits of using gadgets including duration, distance and use of spectacles correlated with the incidence of Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) (p=0.016, C=0.168; p=0.010, C=0.181; p=0.035, C=0.181). Eye health education is useful for increasing knowledge and changing people's behavior to prevent fatigue due to the use of gadgets. Inappropriate use of gadgets can increase the incidence of CVS.

Eye health promotion-oriented policy statements in various national and provincial health policy documents in South Africa

Background: There are many fragmented public health policies that give directives towards various aspects of healthcare needs and implementation. However, none of these policies make specific reference to eye health promotion (EHP) as an enabler for individuals to take control of the determinants of their eye health (EH) needs.Aim: The current study sought to identify EHP messages in the various available policy documents at both national and provincial health department levels with a view to assessing awareness on the available gaps for the development of an integrated EHP policy in South Africa.Setting: The study used documents provided by the National Department of Health and those that were available online from various other provincial Departments of Health in the country.Methods: Content analysis of EH policies requested from the Directorate of Chronic Diseases, Disabilities and Geriatrics was conducted. Various other health policies that were enacted post-1994 and endorsed by the National and Provincial Departments of Health were also considered for analysis.Results: Twenty-four documents were considered for content analysis. The national guidelines on eye healthcare made reference to EH activities such as immunisation of children, vision screening of the elderly, vitamin A supplementation and maternal services to detect sexually transmitted diseases, amongst others. Of the 20 national and provincial health documents analysed, only four made reference to EH. None of these documents made any specific reference to EHP.Conclusion: Although four national guidelines contain content related to EHP, the fragmentation and lack of integration with other health policy documents may lead to eye healthcare messages not being prioritised for dissemination even where they are highly required. Also, public eye healthcare services in general will continue to lag behind as is the case in most provinces in South Africa.

Hubungan penggunaan alat pelindung diri (APD) dengan kesehatan mata pada pekerja pengelasan. Studi kasus di PT. X, Aceh Besar

Background: Welding workshop is one of the workplaces that have the risk and danger of accidents and the emergence of occupational diseases. The use of personal protective equipment is very important for workers to avoid work accidents. The obligation to wear and follow orders to always use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has been set in almost all companies (PT), but there are still workers who have not used personal protective equipment in the welding process.Objective: This study aims to determine the relationship between the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) with eye health in welding workers at company X, Aceh Besar District.Method: This type of research is descriptive-analytic to determine the relationship between the use of eye personal protective equipment (PPE) with eye health in welding workers at company X, Aceh Besar district in 2020. The samples in this study were 15 welding workers. Data collection techniques used are checklists and questionnaires, using interview and observation techniques. Data processing includes the stages of editing, coding, tabulating and entry. Analysis using Chi-Square statistical test at a significance level of 95%.Results: The results of the study have shown that 40% of respondents use personal protective equipment. The healthy eye response was 44.43%. There is a relationship between the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) with eye health in welding workers at company X, Aceh Besar District (p= 0.014).Conclusion: The use of personal protective equipment has a very significant relationship to the safety and eye health of welding workers.

Realizing the potential of routinely collected data for monitoring eye health services to help achieve universal health coverage

In the recent World Report on Vision, the World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted the need to strengthen health information systems (HIS) for eye health, including data from population-based surveys and facility-based sources such as service and resource data. The report also outlined the importance of strengthening eye health to enable Universal Health Coverage. In high-income countries, facility-based data are increasingly used to monitor eye services and answer research questions, including under the banner of big data. While there are some examples of comprehensive and robust information systems for eye care in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the potential of facility-based data is yet to be realized in many LMICs. Here, we discuss the potential of strengthening the collection and use of facility-based data for eye health in LMICs to monitor Universal Health Coverage relevant aspects of service access, quality, and equity.

Training Needs Assessment for a Bachelor of Science Program in Eye Care at the University of Rwanda

BackgroundThe University of Rwanda, established the Ophthalmology Department in 2004 to train Ophthalmic Clinical Officers (OCO). A proposal was developed towards upgrading the qualification level of the OCOs training at the University of Rwanda.AimThis study aimed to assess the need to upgrade the qualification of ophthalmic clinical officers to improve eye health services in Rwanda.MethodologyA descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 87 participants comprised of ophthalmic clinical officers, eye health development stakeholders, and employers in Rwanda selected purposively. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 16.ResultsThe results showed that 77% of participants in the stakeholders group and 51.4% in the OCOs group were males. About 97% (n= 34) of the OCO responded “Yes” to the questions “Do you think some of the weaknesses related to quality practice are related to the level of training?” and “Does your qualification have any effect to your professional development?” Furthermore, 85% had never been promoted at any employment position, 100 % (n=35) alumni and 84 % (n=22) stakeholders agreed that there is a need for bachelor’s degree program.ConclusionThe need for developing new programs in ophthalmology including a Bachelor of Science degree program for OCOs was evident.Rwanda J Med Health Sci 2021;4(3):357-365

Engagement with Diabetes Retinal Screening: An analysis of secondary data from the Pacific Eye Institute in Suva

Objectives: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the primary causes of preventable vision loss and blindness. Diabetic retinopathy screening (DRS) is essential to detect microvascular damage to the retina; it can be performed in primary care or specialist eye health clinics. The system of referral, screening, and treatment relies on an organized primary care referral pathway, accessible services, and at least a basic level of health literacy among those living with or under threat of developing Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Methods: Routinely collected patient data from the Pacific Eye Institute (PEI) in Fiji was analyzed to describe a) clinical and demographic DR patient characteristics and b) characteristics of patients demonstrating higher clinic engagement (using multiple logistic regression). Results: Of 9287 patients who first attended the PEI for DRS between 2012 and 2017, 22% presented with sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy (STDR) in at least one eye. The average duration of DM was 3 years; self-reported glycaemic control was poor. Indo-Fijian or other ethnicity (both vs iTaukei, OR=2.30, 95%CI 1.96-2.70 and OR=2.18, 95% CI 1.63-2.92, respectively; p<0.001), high blood sugar (OR 1.39, 95%CI 1.10-1.75, p=0.006), longer duration of disease (OR=1.21, 95%CI 1.02-1.43, p=0.027), peripheral neuropathy (OR=1.43, 95%CI 1.24-1.65, p<0.001) and STDR (OR=3.30, 95%CI 2.78-3.92, p<0.001) were associated with greater odds of higher clinic engagement. Male gender (Odds Ratio (OR)=0.83, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.72-0.95, p=0.006), younger or older age (both vs 40-70 years; <40 years, OR=0.48, 95%CI 0.37-0.63, ?70 years OR=0.61, 95%CI 0.48-0.76, p<0.001), year of first clinic visit (2013 vs 2012 OR=0.58, 95%CI 0.50-0.69, p<0.001; 2014 vs 2012 OR=0.36, 95%CI 0.30-0.43, p<0.001) and moderate visual impairment (OR=0.67 95%CI 0.56-0.80, p<0.001) were associated with lower odds of high clinic engagement. Conclusion: Our results identify patient groups that may be more vulnerable to lower engagement with eye health services. Increasing engagement may help reduce delays in screening and treatment. Given the projected continued rise in DM in the Pacific region, investing in robust electronic data systems that collect and connect public health and clinical data is imperative. Health literacy is important for the prevention of DM, timely DM diagnosis, and screening for complications such as DR.

Horticultural Study on Cucumber Cultivation; Pest and Disease Control from Traditional Approach

The aims of the study to know Horticultural Study on Cucumber Cultivation; Pest and Disease Control from Traditional Approach. Cucumber offers several health advantages, including a high concentration of Vitamin A, anti-cancer properties, the ability to absorb pollutants, and the ability to provide energy. cucumber is high in provitamin A, which helps to preserve eye health by acting as an antioxidant. It also helps to prevent damage to body cells that leads to premature aging by acting naturally. cucumber fruit has been shown to be effective in reducing the development of intestinal cancer.

Prevalence of blindness and distance vision impairment in the Gambia across three decades of eye health programming

Background/aimsThe 1986 Gambia National Eye Health Survey provided baseline data for a National Eye Health Programme. A second survey in 1996 evaluated changes in population eye health a decade later. We completed a third survey in 2019, to determine the current state of population eye health, considering service developments and demographic change.MethodsWe estimated prevalence and causes of vision impairment (VI) in a nationally representative population-based sample of adults 35 years and older. We used multistage cluster random sampling to sample 10 800 adults 35 and above in 360 clusters of 30. We measured monocular distance visual acuity (uncorrected and with available correction) using Peek Acuity. Participants with either eye uncorrected or presenting (with available correction) acuity <6/12 were retested with pinhole and refraction, and dilated exams were completed on all eyes by ophthalmologists using a direct ophthalmoscope, slit lamp and 90 D lens.ResultsWe examined 9188 participants (response rate 83%). The 2013 census age–sex adjusted prevalence of blindness (presenting acuity<3/60 in better seeing eye) was 1.2% (95% CI 0.9 to 1.4) and of moderate or severe VI (MSVI,<6/18 to ≥3/60) was 8.9% (95% CI 9.1 to 9.7). Prevalence of all distance VI (<6/12) was 13.4% (12.4–14.4). Compared with 1996, the relative risk of blindness decreased (risk ratio 0.7, 95% CI 0.5 to 1.0) and MSVI increased (risk ratio 1.5, 95% CI 1.2 to 0.17).ConclusionSignificant progress has been made to reduce blindness and increase access to eye health across the Gambia, with further work is needed to decrease the risk of MSVI.