Eye Care Service Use and Associated Health-Seeking Behaviors Among Malawian Adults: Secondary Analysis of the Malawi Fifth Integrated Household Survey 2019-2020

Background

The use of eye care services varies among different population groups.

Objective

This study aimed to assess self-reported eye care use (ECU) and associated demographic factors among Malawian adults.

Methods

This study used secondary data from the Malawi Fifth Integrated Household Survey 2019-2020, a nationally representative survey. The study included 12,288 households and 27,336 individuals 15 years and older. We entered age, sex, level of education, residency (urban/rural), and chronic disease into a logistic regression model, and used a confusion matrix to predict the model's accuracy. A P value <.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

About 60.6% (95% CI 60.0%-61.2%) of those with eye problems accessed formal care 2 weeks before the survey date. A logistic regression model showed that ECU was positively associated with education compared to none (odds ratio [OR] 6.6, 95% CI 5.927-7.366; P<.001), males compared to females (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.104-1.290; P<.001), and urban residence compared to rural (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.118-1.375; P<.001). ECU was negatively associated with age (OR 7, 95% CI 6.782-8.476; P<.001) and having chronic diseases (OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.547-0.708; P<.001).

Conclusions

Social support, women empowerment, education, and mobile clinics are key strategic areas that would increase access to eye care in Malawi. Further studies can investigate ECU among the pediatric population.

The distribution of blinkrate among Malawian young adults: a cross-sectional study

Blink rate is a critical sign for numerous systemic and ocular conditions in medicine, however, the literature reports varying values for the parameter. Hence, the aim of this study was to establish the cut-off blink rate value among Malawian young adults including the effects of sex and age on the parameter. This was a quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among students at Mzuzu University in Malawi. The study recruited 98 participants, 50% male and 50% female. The age ranged from 17-45 years. The blink rate was measured manually by observing the number of blinks per minute. The average blink rate was 16.04 (SD = 6.417) blinks per minute. The Blink rate was not significantly correlated with age (P = 0.066) and sex (P = 0.8143). Our study confirms that blink rate varies according to geographical location as a factor of different weather conditions. Moreover, we found no age and sex-related differences in blink rate.

Assessing the relationship between non-invasive tear break-up time and maximum blink interval values among young adults at Mzuzu University

PURPOSE

To assess the relationship between non-invasive tear break-up time (NITBUT) and maximum blink interval (MBI) values among young adults.

METHOD

The study was conducted at Mzuzu University and involved 98 subjects (55 females and 43 males) aged between 18 and 40 years. All subjects were screened under the slit lamp, and were also asked questions to determine their eligibility to participate in the study. NITBUT measurements were taken by checking the discontinuity of the mires on the keratometer. MBI measurements were taken by observing the time period the subject could keep their eyes open without blinking.

RESULTS

There was a positive correlation (r=0.64, r ²=0.418, P<0.001) between NITBUT and MBI values. The relationship between NITBUT and MBI values was similar in both males and females. Furthermore, the study showed that age, as well as gender, is not correlated to NITBUT and MBI values.

CONCLUSION

There is a positive significant correlation (r=0.64, r ²=0.418, P<0.001) between NITBUT and MBI values. There was no significant difference between the NITBUT and MBI values between males and females. The study has also discovered that there is no correlation between NITBUT and MBI with age and gender.