Constraints To Uptake Cataract Surgery Among Cataract Blind

Constraints To Uptake Cataract Surgery Among Cataract Blind Women In Rural District of Tamil Nadu, South India Franklin Daniel Stanley Programme Manager – Community Eye Health Operation Eyesight India

Objectives To identify § The major constraints that prevent cataract blind women to undergo surgeries in hospital and community settings To understand § In depth stories § Important decision makers § Enabling factors Among >40 aged, Cataract blind women Setting 1: Hospital based Subjects who had visited hospital, examined, Identified and advised for surgery, but did not seek treatment (n: 108) Setting 2: Community Based Subjects who were identified in their villages by health workers and referred to hospital, but did not go for treatment (n: 130)

Study details Study management § Institutional Review Board of LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India § UNSW, Sydney, Australia Study design § Retrospective & Comparative § Validated APEDS questionnaire Sample size § 238 subjects

Results Constraints (in %) § In a group, Individual related constraints § 45% in the hospital setting § 50% in the community setting § Fear in HS § Finance in CS

Results In-depth stories (in %) § Are different from said § § constraints Lack of family support 36% in each setting Poor/ single and earned for self/ husband 5%

Results Decision makers (in %) Enabling factors (in %)

Take home message § Constraints in both settings are similar § Significant difference between said constraints and in-depth § § stories collected Daughters are important decision makers Enhanced family supported is required: Counseling with integrated education of family members is crucial

Thank You !