Self treatment of eye diseases in Malawi

Bibliographic Data

ID20345700
AuthorsThomas Bisika (University of Pretoria), Paul Courtright (0000-0002-0997-347X, University of British Columbia), Robert Geneau (0000-0001-6180-2515, University of Ottawa), A Kasote, Arun P Kasote (University of Malawi), L Chimombo (University of Malawi), M Chirambo
Year2010
Volume6
Issue1
Pages23-9
Publication date2010-07-27
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAfrican Journal of Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicines (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0189-6016 • E-ISSN: 2505-0044
PublisherAfrican Journals Online (AJOL) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.4314/ajtcam.v6i1.57070
PMID20162038
OpenAlexW2019492295
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited5

Self-treatment for eye diseases is very common in most developing countries yet there has been little investigation of such attitudes and practices. In many settings, people do not proceed beyond self-treatment and do not receive care from either traditional healers or Western eye care providers. Visual impairment and blindness can be the result. We conducted population-based survey of use of eye care services and self-treatment in two districts of Malawi. Adults were administered a detailed interview regarding their use of eye care services (Western and traditional as well as self-treatment) and their knowledge and use of traditional eye medicines. Self-treatment was defined as use of either Western or traditional medicines by the individual for their most recent eye condition. Only eye conditions that were considered severe by the study subjects were correlated with treatment options. Interviews were carried out among 800 adults in the study areas. Self-treatment was reported for the last episode of eye disease by 39.8% of the study population. Factors associated with self-treatment included sex, religion and socioeconomic status. Even though 76.8% of the respondents reported treatment from the health center or hospital to be the least expensive option, many opted for self-treatment first. Among those opting for self-treatment 72% used traditional eye medicines. Even among cases that individuals considered to be quite severe (these included cataract, trachoma and conjunctivitis), self-treatment was the option of choice in 22.2% of cases

Blindness · Disease · Environmental health · Eye care · Family medicine · Population · Psychiatry · Socioeconomic status · Trachoma · Visual impairment · Global Maternal and Child Health · Medicine · Ocular Infections and Treatments · Ophthalmology and Visual Impairment Studies · Optometry · Pediatrics

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