Publication: A study on awareness about eye health care and eye donation among secondary level students of North Kolkata, India
Date
2010
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background
Corneal blindness is one of the important types of blindness that can be prevented by
proper health care education and conventionally cured by corneal transplantation for
which awareness regarding eye donation is essential.
Objectives
The aim of the study is to assess the awareness of eye health care and eye donation
among secondary level school students of North Kolkata.
Methods
It was a cross-sectional study. Settings: Eight Government aided schools of North
Kolkata, West Bengal, India. A total of 1525 students of standard VIII, IX and X of
Government aided schools of North Kolkata participated in this study. A pre-tested,
semi-structured questionnaire was administered on eye health care and eye donation.
Results
1284 (84.2%) participants opined that awareness on eye health care can prevent most
of the blindness and 1206 (79.1%) students knew that Vitamin A has important role
in prevention of childhood blindness. Majority, 1235 (81.0%) students were aware
of eye donation after death while only 489 (32.1%) participants knew that the ideal
time for eye donation is within 6 hours of death. 802 (52.6%) participants mentioned
printed and electronic media (like newspaper and television) as the major source of
information on eye donation.
Conclusions
Media publicity to increase awareness of eye donation and eye health care is not
enough. Strategies have to be developed to educate the students, so that they can act
as motivators for enhancing eye donation and increasing eye health care awareness in
the community.
Key Words
awareness, corneal blindness, eye donation, school students
Description
1-6 Department of Ophthalmology, R.G.Kar Medical College, Kolkata, India