Barriers to Free Cataract Surgery during a Surgical Outreach Camp in New Karu LGA, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

Aim: To determine the proportion of screened cataract patients with vision ≤6/60 that will utilize the free cataract surgical services and to identify the barriers to uptake of the free cataract surgical services. Settings and design: A cross-sectional descriptive study. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out among 53 cataract patients with vision acuity (VA) ≤6/60 who presented at a cataract surgical outreach camp in New Karu LGA, Nasarawa State from September 10 to 14, 2013, using both quantitative and qualitative measures. Statistical analysis used: Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 20 using the descriptive analysis. Results: Six hundred and sixty-six people registered for the outreach, 552 were examined, 125 had cataract of which 53 had cataract with VA ≤6/60, and were offered the free cataract surgical service. The age range of the participants was 36 to 77 with a mean age of 54 years. Twenty-seven were males and 26 were females. Initially, 64.2% were willing to have surgery, eventually 75.5% took up the free cataract surgical services. Females, residents of New Karu LGA, the uneducated and housewives were less likely to take up the free cataract surgical services and this was statistically significant. The most common barriers identified include 41% were afraid of surgery and 26.1% had heard of a bad outcome previously following cataract surgery. Conclusion: There was a high utilization of the free cataract surgical service. Fear of surgery and prior knowledge on poor outcome were major barriers. Community participation played an immense role to increase uptake.