Causes of blindness among children identified through village key informants in Malawi

Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology. Journal Canadien D'ophtalmologie
Khumbo KaluaPaul Courtright

Abstract

To determine the causes of blindness among children in rural Malawi. This was a cross-sectional study of children in communities of Chikwawa district, Malawi. Children were identified through trained, community-based key informants. All identified children were examined by an ophthalmologist and the cause of blindness determined. In total, 151 children were identified, of whom 37 (25%) were blind. Among the blind, 21 (60%) were girls and 16 (40%) were boys. Cataract (congenital/developmental) was the leading cause of blindness (35%), followed by corneal conditions (22%). In an area once noted for vitamin A deficiency in children, cataract is now the leading cause of blindness in children, replacing cornea blindness. Priorities for early cataract detection and intervention need to be considered for restoration of sight in children.

References

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Citations

Dec 10, 2009·PLoS Medicine·Parikshit GogatePaul Courtright
Sep 5, 2012·Indian Journal of Ophthalmology·Srinivas MarmamulaGullapalli N Rao
Jul 7, 2011·Middle East African Journal of Ophthalmology·Herrieth MgangaPaul Courtright
May 31, 2011·Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene·Berhan S Demissie, Anthony W Solomon
Aug 6, 2013·Journal of AAPOS : the Official Publication of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus·Roseline DukeSusan Lewallen
May 7, 2015·Clinical & Experimental Optometry : Journal of the Australian Optometrical Association·Dinesh KaphleKovin S Naidoo
Apr 22, 2015·Journal of AAPOS : the Official Publication of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus·Phoebe D LenhartScott R Lambert
Jul 10, 2014·Archives of Disease in Childhood·Gudlavalleti V S MurthyUNKNOWN Bangladesh KIM Study Group
Mar 17, 2009·Journal of AAPOS : the Official Publication of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus·Elizabeth KishikiPaul Courtright
Feb 14, 2018·The British Journal of Ophthalmology·Mohammad MuhitGulam Khandaker
Dec 4, 2019·Ophthalmic Epidemiology·Ngoy Janvier KilangalangaRudolf Guthoff
Jan 1, 2012·Saudi Journal of Ophthalmology : Official Journal of the Saudi Ophthalmological Society·Paul Courtright
Feb 1, 2020·BMC Ophthalmology·Bolutife Ayokunnu OlusanyaAderonke Mojisola Baiyeroju
Sep 2, 2021·Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology·Mohammad MuhitGulam Khandaker

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