The vision issues and related factors of children residing in two provinces in western Turkey

Abstract

Around the world, approximately 285 million people are visually impaired, and 19 million of them are children. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of vision problems experienced by children residing in two provinces in western Turkey, and to evaluate the characteristics of their protective behaviors addressed to eye health as well as the relationship between these behaviors and eye health problems. This is a cross-sectional study. The study data were collected between May and October 2016. The population of the study comprised 355 parents that had children and were registered in a total of 22 primary healthcare centers in two provinces in western Turkey. Vision problems were significantly more common in students who had received an eye examination and had family members with vision problems. Having been examined by an ophthalmologist (OR=0.031; 95% Cl: 0.004-0.226) and having family members with vision problems (OR=2.76; 95% Cl: 1.47-5.18) are independent variables that are related to having a vision problem. It was remarkable in the study that developing protective behaviors is necessary for eye health.