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Prevalence of blindness in Nigeria among adults older than 40 years similar to that of India
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2009;50(5):2033-2039.
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Blindness among adults in Nigeria was associated with older age, female gender and low literacy, according to a population-based survey. Blindness was also more prevalent among residents of Nigeria’s northeast region.
“Data from the present survey are the first step in the planning process, and information on the causes of blindness and visual impairment are needed to prepare concrete strategies for the elimination of avoidable blindness in Nigeria,” the study authors said.
The study included 13,599 subjects age 40 years and older with a mean age of 55.9 years. The population sample represented Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, 36 states and Federal Capital Territory of Abuja. Cluster random sampling was used to assemble the sample.
Blindness and severe visual impairment were defined by World Health Organization criteria (visual acuity worse than 20/400 in the better eye and visual acuity worse than 20/200 to 20/400 in the better eye, respectively).
Data showed a prevalence of blindness of 4.2% and a prevalence of visual impairment of 1.5%. The prevalence of blindness showed a statistically significant increase, from 0.8% at age 40 to 49 years to 23.3% at 80 years or older (P < .001). Female gender and low literacy also showed statistically significant correlations with blindness (both P < .001), the authors said.
The prevalence of blindness in Nigeria was similar to that of India, higher than that of Bangladesh and lower than those of Pakistan, they said.