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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
1

Tracoma em crianças do Ensino Fundamental do município de Bauru - Estado de São Paulo, Brasil /

Ferraz, Lucieni Cristina Barbarini. January 2006 (has links)
Orientador: Silvana Artioli Schellini / Banca: Marino Scarpi / Banca: Norma Helen Medina / Banca: Ivete Dalben / Banca: Carlos Roberto Padovani / Resumo: Tendo em vista que o Tracoma é causa de cegueira e que há cinco anos não havia nenhum caso notificado no Município de Bauru - São Paulo, foi realizado o presente estudo que teve por objetivo determinar a prevalência de tracoma e as características de seus portadores, assim como estabelecer um programa de controle da doença para Bauru. Material e método: foi realizado um estudo transversal, aleatorizado, nas escolas estaduais de Bauru, São Paulo. Foram examinadas 1749 crianças do ensino fundamental, de 6 a 14 anos, durante o ano de 2005. As escolas foram escolhidas por sorteio, de acordo com o número de estudantes e de acordo com a localização dentro do setor da cidade (centro, região intermediária e periferia). O diagnóstico dos casos foi clínico, seguindo as normas da Organização Mundial de Saúde, confirmado laboratorialmente em três pacientes que apresentavam o diagnóstico de Tracoma folicular, pelo método da imunofluorescência indireta para detecção de Chlamydia trachomatis. A associação entre presença de doença e características dos portadores foi feita usando o teste de Goodman, teste não-paramétrico de Kruskal-Wallis e estatística descritiva. Todos os casos foram tratados com azitromicina oral, em dose única, e foram acompanhados periodicamente. Resultados: A prevalência de Tracoma inflamatório foi de 3,77%, tendo sido diagnosticado Tracoma folicular em 3,71% e Tracoma intenso em 0,06% das crianças examinadas. As crianças com Tracoma moravam principalmente na região intermediária e periférica da cidade, áreas onde o fornecimento de água pode ser descontínuo e o tratamento do esgoto pode estar ausente. Meninos e meninas foram acometidos de forma semelhante. Prurido e ardor ocular foram sintomas que estavam relacionados com a presença da doença. Foram detectados 175 comunicantes com o diagnóstico... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Trachoma is one of cause of blindness. The last five years there were no cases detected in Bauru, São Paulo. The purpose of this study aimed to determine the prevalence of trachoma in schoolchildren in Bauru and to establish a control program of this disease in Bauru. Material and methods: A transversal random study was carried out in state schools of Bauru, São Paulo. One thousand seven hundred and forty nine children were examined at fundamental classes, between six to fourteen years old during the year 2005. The schools were chosen by random, according to the number of scholar children and the school region and it was represented by section of the city (downtown, middle and periphery). The diagnosis of the cases was clinical, it was according to the World Health Organization protocol, and three patients with clinical follicular trachoma had laboratory confirmation. The laboratory technique chosen was direct smear fluorescent antibodies cytology for Chlamydia trachomatis. The association study among trachoma and relatives variables was done by Goodman test, Kruskal-Wallis test and descriptive statistics. All cases were treated with Azitromycin orally and they had followed up periodically. Results: The sample was composed of 1749 children and the trachoma prevalence was 3,77%. Follicular trachoma was diagnosed in 3,71% of children, and intense trachoma in one child (0,06%). The children with trachoma were living mainly in the middle and periphery region of the city, regions with discontinuous water supply and absent sewerage system. Itching and burning were complains more related to trachoma. One hundred and seventy five contacts were found and were clinic diagnostic with the disease. Conclusion: The Trachoma prevalence in Bauru - São Paulo State is 3,77%. A control program is development to treat ant detect the contacts. This way, there was a bauruense community mobilization to prevent Trachoma blindness in the municipal district. / Doutor
2

Tracoma em crianças do Ensino Fundamental do município de Bauru - Estado de São Paulo, Brasil

Ferraz, Lucieni Cristina Barbarini [UNESP] 22 September 2006 (has links) (PDF)
Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:32:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2006-09-22Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:22:58Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 ferraz_lcb_dr_botfm.pdf: 1272413 bytes, checksum: e6358f733b6708125fc92291189f5991 (MD5) / Tendo em vista que o Tracoma é causa de cegueira e que há cinco anos não havia nenhum caso notificado no Município de Bauru - São Paulo, foi realizado o presente estudo que teve por objetivo determinar a prevalência de tracoma e as características de seus portadores, assim como estabelecer um programa de controle da doença para Bauru. Material e método: foi realizado um estudo transversal, aleatorizado, nas escolas estaduais de Bauru, São Paulo. Foram examinadas 1749 crianças do ensino fundamental, de 6 a 14 anos, durante o ano de 2005. As escolas foram escolhidas por sorteio, de acordo com o número de estudantes e de acordo com a localização dentro do setor da cidade (centro, região intermediária e periferia). O diagnóstico dos casos foi clínico, seguindo as normas da Organização Mundial de Saúde, confirmado laboratorialmente em três pacientes que apresentavam o diagnóstico de Tracoma folicular, pelo método da imunofluorescência indireta para detecção de Chlamydia trachomatis. A associação entre presença de doença e características dos portadores foi feita usando o teste de Goodman, teste não-paramétrico de Kruskal-Wallis e estatística descritiva. Todos os casos foram tratados com azitromicina oral, em dose única, e foram acompanhados periodicamente. Resultados: A prevalência de Tracoma inflamatório foi de 3,77%, tendo sido diagnosticado Tracoma folicular em 3,71% e Tracoma intenso em 0,06% das crianças examinadas. As crianças com Tracoma moravam principalmente na região intermediária e periférica da cidade, áreas onde o fornecimento de água pode ser descontínuo e o tratamento do esgoto pode estar ausente. Meninos e meninas foram acometidos de forma semelhante. Prurido e ardor ocular foram sintomas que estavam relacionados com a presença da doença. Foram detectados 175 comunicantes com o diagnóstico... / Trachoma is one of cause of blindness. The last five years there were no cases detected in Bauru, São Paulo. The purpose of this study aimed to determine the prevalence of trachoma in schoolchildren in Bauru and to establish a control program of this disease in Bauru. Material and methods: A transversal random study was carried out in state schools of Bauru, São Paulo. One thousand seven hundred and forty nine children were examined at fundamental classes, between six to fourteen years old during the year 2005. The schools were chosen by random, according to the number of scholar children and the school region and it was represented by section of the city (downtown, middle and periphery). The diagnosis of the cases was clinical, it was according to the World Health Organization protocol, and three patients with clinical follicular trachoma had laboratory confirmation. The laboratory technique chosen was direct smear fluorescent antibodies cytology for Chlamydia trachomatis. The association study among trachoma and relatives variables was done by Goodman test, Kruskal-Wallis test and descriptive statistics. All cases were treated with Azitromycin orally and they had followed up periodically. Results: The sample was composed of 1749 children and the trachoma prevalence was 3,77%. Follicular trachoma was diagnosed in 3,71% of children, and intense trachoma in one child (0,06%). The children with trachoma were living mainly in the middle and periphery region of the city, regions with discontinuous water supply and absent sewerage system. Itching and burning were complains more related to trachoma. One hundred and seventy five contacts were found and were clinic diagnostic with the disease. Conclusion: The Trachoma prevalence in Bauru - São Paulo State is 3,77%. A control program is development to treat ant detect the contacts. This way, there was a bauruense community mobilization to prevent Trachoma blindness in the municipal district.
3

Factors associated with diabetic retinopathy requiring treatment on fundal photography in participants of the Cape Town diabetic retinopathy screening programme

Alexander, Henry George January 2016 (has links)
Magister Public Health - MPH / BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE: The Cape Town Metro District Health Service (MDHS) has introduced a Diabetic RetinopathyScreening (DRS) programme incorporating retinal fundal photography in diabetic services at primary health care (PHC) facilities. Hitherto, coverage of the DRS programme has been less than optimal in part due to volumes of diabetic patients attending PHC facilities. The aim of this study was to identify possible sub-groups of patients, attending the Cape Town DRS Programme, who are at most risk of diabetic retinopathy and might be prioritised for early diabetic retinopathy detection and subsequent sight-saving treatment. METHODOLOGY: A case-control study of risk factors for treatment-requiring diabetic retinopathy was conducted. This research sampled participants from the DRS programme provided by the MDHS eye care team to Type II diabetics attending public PHC facilities within the Klipfontein and Mitchells Plain Sub-Districts. Based on fundal images, cases were selected as those requiring ophthalmological treatment; and controls (three matched per case by area of residence) as those judged as not requiring ophthalmological treatment for diabetic retinopathy. Data on possible risk factors (clinical, laboratory) were extracted from the patients' folders. RESULT: The study included 453 participants, of whom 113 (24.9%) were cases and 340 (75.1%) were controls. Three factors were significantly associated with treatment-requiring diabetic retinopathy on multivariate analysis: Insulin dependency (OR of 2.96, 95% CI: 1.75 – 5.00); duration of diabetes of more than 10 years (OR of 3.44, 95% CI: 2.06 – 5.74) and sustained hyperglycaemia over the past six months (OR of 3.73, 95% CI: 1.69 – 8.22). A screening algorithm combining these criteria had a sensitivity of 61.2% (95% CI: 51.9 – 70.5). CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that a sub-set of patients attending the DRS programme in the Klipfontein and Mitchells Plain Sub-Districts have a greater likelihood of presenting with treatment-requiring diabetic retinopathy. Further research is required to develop a tool that is sufficiently sensitive to safely prioritise patients for fundal screening. / National Research Foundation (NRF)
4

Habilitação e reabilitação visual de escolares com baixa visão: aspectos médico-sociais / Visual habilitation and rehabilitation of visually impaired children at school age. Social and ophthalmologic features

Haddad, Maria Aparecida Onuki 28 September 2006 (has links)
INTRODUÇÃO: A baixa visão na infância pode limitar as experiências de vida, a velocidade de realização de tarefas, o desenvolvimento motor, as habilidades, a educação e o desenvolvimento emocional e social, com comprometimento da qualidade de vida. O conhecimento de aspectos médico-sociais colaboram para a elaboração de ações efetivas para a reabilitação visual e a inclusão educacional. OBJETIVOS: 1)Identificar aspectos clínicos referentes a população com baixa visão em idade escolar atendida no Serviço de Visão Subnormal da Clínica Oftalmológica do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo e da Associação Brasileira de Assistência ao Deficiente Visual, com relação a causa da baixa visão, localização da anormalidade, classes de comprometimento visual, função visual atual, prescrição óptica para correção de ametropias e para auxílios para baixa visão; necessidades reabilitacionais; 2) Verificar percepção de mães ou responsáveis quanto a detecção da deficiência visual, encaminhamentos e condutas realizados por profissionais da área médica, acesso a serviços de atenção oftalmológica especializada à baixa visão, acesso a auxílios ópticos prescritos para baixa visão; 3) fornecer subsídios para desenvolvimento de ações para habilitação/reabilitação da baixa visão na infância. MÉTODOS: Realizou-se estudo transversal analítico, tendo sido estudadas a população de 115 escolares com baixa visão, sem outras deficiências associadas e a população de mães ou responsáveis pelos escolares, detectados no período de fevereiro a novembro de 2005. Realizou-se a avaliação oftalmológica dos escolares e aplicou-se questionário semi-estruturado às mães ou responsáveis. RESULTADOS: As principais causas da deficiência visual foram a retinocoroidite macular bilateral por toxoplasmose congênita (27,8%), a catarata congênita (11,3%), o albinismo oculocutâneo (7,8%) e o glaucoma congênito (6,1%); a retina foi a principal localização da afecção ocular causadora da deficiência visual (54,8%); as principais etiologias foram hereditárias (36,5%) e pré-natais infecciosas (32,1%); as classes de deficiência visual moderada(67,8%) e grave (27,0%) foram mais freqüentes;a correção óptica da ametropia foi prescrita para todos os casos de retinocoroidite macular bilateral, de amaurose congênita de Leber e de albinismo oculocutâneo; os auxílios ópticos para longe (87,8%) foram mais prescritos que os auxílios ópticos para perto (34,7%); a mãe foi a pessoa que percebeu primeiro a dificuldade visual em 53,0%; a escola foi importante na detecção de problemas visuais nos escolares com baixa visão (6,1%); o pediatra mostrou-se despreparado para a detecção de problemas visuais, tratamentos, orientação à família e encaminhamentos; diagnosticou-se a baixa visão no primeiro ano de vida em 83,0% dos casos; o encaminhamento a serviços de reabilitação visual foi realizado tardiamente ao diagnóstico e ocorreu principalmente na idade escolar (53,9%); o principal responsável pelo encaminhamento a serviços de reabilitação foi o oftalmologista(60%); a menor parte dos escolares havia sido atendida por outro serviço de reabilitação (23,0%); apesar da existência de outros serviços terciários de reabilitação visual na cidade de São Paulo, 67,0% dos responsáveis não tinha conhecimento dos mesmos. CONCLUSÕES: Verifica-se necessidade de: programas de detecção precoce de problemas visuais na infância, por meio de capacitação de pediatras em saúde ocular; programas de detecção de problemas oculares na idade escolar, em parceria com serviços de saúde e educação, como a Campanha Olho no Olho; capacitação de professores do sistema regular de ensino, quanto à saúde ocular e aspectos da baixa visão; maior acesso a auxílios ópticos prescritos à pessoa com baixa visão;educação continuada de oftalmologistas para atuação na área da baixa visão e maior divulgação das implicações da baixa visão na infância e na vida adulta e dos serviços disponíveis na comunidade. / INTRODUCTION: Low vision in childhood can limit experiences, speed in performing daily activities, sensory and motor development, educational, social and emotional improvement and compromise quality of life. Knowledge of medical and social features can cooperate to the development of effective actions to educational inclusion and visual rehabilitation. OBJECTIVES: 1. to identify clinical features of a population of school age children with low vision evaluated at the low vision service of the University of São Paulo Ophthalmology Department and the Brazilian Association for the Visually Impaired. (Laramara) concerning causes of low vision, anatomical site of the abnormality, classes of visual impairment, visual functions, use of optical correction, low vision devices and rehabiliattion needs. 2. to evaluate perceptions of mothers or the persons responsible concerning detection of the visual impairment, procedures of the professionals involved, access to low vision services and to the prescribed low vision aids. 3. to contribute to improve actions of habilitation or rehabilitation of visually impaired school children. METHODS: a population of 115 school children with visual impairment was submitted to ophthalmologic low vision evaluation and a semistructured questionnaire was applied to the mother or person responsible. RESULTS: main causes of visual impairment were presumed toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis(27,8%), congenital cataracts (11,3%), albinism (7,8%) and congenital glaucoma (6,1%). Retina (54,8%) was the main affected area and the main causes involved heredity (36,5%) or pre-natal infections (32,1%). Moderated (67,8%) and Severe (27,0%) low vision were more frequent. Glasses for refractive errors were prescribed to all with bilateral macular retinochoroiditis, Leber congenital amaurosis and albinism. Mothers were the first to notice visual impairment in the majority of cases (53,0%) and the school was also important (6,1%). Pediatricians were not very efficient in the detection of visual impaiment in these children. Low vision was detected in the first year of life in 83% and referral to visual rehabilitation unit ocurred chiefly at school age (53,9%), being the ophthalmologist the professional responsible for the majority of referrals(60%). These children, in general, never had a prior low vision examination (73%) and the mothers or responsibles had little knowledge of other available rehabilitation units in the area (67,0%). CONCLUSIONS: early detection programs for visual impairment in children and capacitation of pediatricians is important as well as the screening for refractive errors of children at school age. Regular school teachers should receive information on basic eye health and low vision. Improved access to low vision aids and increased awareness on the subject among ophthalmologists is a necessity as well as more information on community services and visual impairment should be available to the population.
5

Habilitação e reabilitação visual de escolares com baixa visão: aspectos médico-sociais / Visual habilitation and rehabilitation of visually impaired children at school age. Social and ophthalmologic features

Maria Aparecida Onuki Haddad 28 September 2006 (has links)
INTRODUÇÃO: A baixa visão na infância pode limitar as experiências de vida, a velocidade de realização de tarefas, o desenvolvimento motor, as habilidades, a educação e o desenvolvimento emocional e social, com comprometimento da qualidade de vida. O conhecimento de aspectos médico-sociais colaboram para a elaboração de ações efetivas para a reabilitação visual e a inclusão educacional. OBJETIVOS: 1)Identificar aspectos clínicos referentes a população com baixa visão em idade escolar atendida no Serviço de Visão Subnormal da Clínica Oftalmológica do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo e da Associação Brasileira de Assistência ao Deficiente Visual, com relação a causa da baixa visão, localização da anormalidade, classes de comprometimento visual, função visual atual, prescrição óptica para correção de ametropias e para auxílios para baixa visão; necessidades reabilitacionais; 2) Verificar percepção de mães ou responsáveis quanto a detecção da deficiência visual, encaminhamentos e condutas realizados por profissionais da área médica, acesso a serviços de atenção oftalmológica especializada à baixa visão, acesso a auxílios ópticos prescritos para baixa visão; 3) fornecer subsídios para desenvolvimento de ações para habilitação/reabilitação da baixa visão na infância. MÉTODOS: Realizou-se estudo transversal analítico, tendo sido estudadas a população de 115 escolares com baixa visão, sem outras deficiências associadas e a população de mães ou responsáveis pelos escolares, detectados no período de fevereiro a novembro de 2005. Realizou-se a avaliação oftalmológica dos escolares e aplicou-se questionário semi-estruturado às mães ou responsáveis. RESULTADOS: As principais causas da deficiência visual foram a retinocoroidite macular bilateral por toxoplasmose congênita (27,8%), a catarata congênita (11,3%), o albinismo oculocutâneo (7,8%) e o glaucoma congênito (6,1%); a retina foi a principal localização da afecção ocular causadora da deficiência visual (54,8%); as principais etiologias foram hereditárias (36,5%) e pré-natais infecciosas (32,1%); as classes de deficiência visual moderada(67,8%) e grave (27,0%) foram mais freqüentes;a correção óptica da ametropia foi prescrita para todos os casos de retinocoroidite macular bilateral, de amaurose congênita de Leber e de albinismo oculocutâneo; os auxílios ópticos para longe (87,8%) foram mais prescritos que os auxílios ópticos para perto (34,7%); a mãe foi a pessoa que percebeu primeiro a dificuldade visual em 53,0%; a escola foi importante na detecção de problemas visuais nos escolares com baixa visão (6,1%); o pediatra mostrou-se despreparado para a detecção de problemas visuais, tratamentos, orientação à família e encaminhamentos; diagnosticou-se a baixa visão no primeiro ano de vida em 83,0% dos casos; o encaminhamento a serviços de reabilitação visual foi realizado tardiamente ao diagnóstico e ocorreu principalmente na idade escolar (53,9%); o principal responsável pelo encaminhamento a serviços de reabilitação foi o oftalmologista(60%); a menor parte dos escolares havia sido atendida por outro serviço de reabilitação (23,0%); apesar da existência de outros serviços terciários de reabilitação visual na cidade de São Paulo, 67,0% dos responsáveis não tinha conhecimento dos mesmos. CONCLUSÕES: Verifica-se necessidade de: programas de detecção precoce de problemas visuais na infância, por meio de capacitação de pediatras em saúde ocular; programas de detecção de problemas oculares na idade escolar, em parceria com serviços de saúde e educação, como a Campanha Olho no Olho; capacitação de professores do sistema regular de ensino, quanto à saúde ocular e aspectos da baixa visão; maior acesso a auxílios ópticos prescritos à pessoa com baixa visão;educação continuada de oftalmologistas para atuação na área da baixa visão e maior divulgação das implicações da baixa visão na infância e na vida adulta e dos serviços disponíveis na comunidade. / INTRODUCTION: Low vision in childhood can limit experiences, speed in performing daily activities, sensory and motor development, educational, social and emotional improvement and compromise quality of life. Knowledge of medical and social features can cooperate to the development of effective actions to educational inclusion and visual rehabilitation. OBJECTIVES: 1. to identify clinical features of a population of school age children with low vision evaluated at the low vision service of the University of São Paulo Ophthalmology Department and the Brazilian Association for the Visually Impaired. (Laramara) concerning causes of low vision, anatomical site of the abnormality, classes of visual impairment, visual functions, use of optical correction, low vision devices and rehabiliattion needs. 2. to evaluate perceptions of mothers or the persons responsible concerning detection of the visual impairment, procedures of the professionals involved, access to low vision services and to the prescribed low vision aids. 3. to contribute to improve actions of habilitation or rehabilitation of visually impaired school children. METHODS: a population of 115 school children with visual impairment was submitted to ophthalmologic low vision evaluation and a semistructured questionnaire was applied to the mother or person responsible. RESULTS: main causes of visual impairment were presumed toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis(27,8%), congenital cataracts (11,3%), albinism (7,8%) and congenital glaucoma (6,1%). Retina (54,8%) was the main affected area and the main causes involved heredity (36,5%) or pre-natal infections (32,1%). Moderated (67,8%) and Severe (27,0%) low vision were more frequent. Glasses for refractive errors were prescribed to all with bilateral macular retinochoroiditis, Leber congenital amaurosis and albinism. Mothers were the first to notice visual impairment in the majority of cases (53,0%) and the school was also important (6,1%). Pediatricians were not very efficient in the detection of visual impaiment in these children. Low vision was detected in the first year of life in 83% and referral to visual rehabilitation unit ocurred chiefly at school age (53,9%), being the ophthalmologist the professional responsible for the majority of referrals(60%). These children, in general, never had a prior low vision examination (73%) and the mothers or responsibles had little knowledge of other available rehabilitation units in the area (67,0%). CONCLUSIONS: early detection programs for visual impairment in children and capacitation of pediatricians is important as well as the screening for refractive errors of children at school age. Regular school teachers should receive information on basic eye health and low vision. Improved access to low vision aids and increased awareness on the subject among ophthalmologists is a necessity as well as more information on community services and visual impairment should be available to the population.
6

A critical analysis of the South African health policies and programmes with regard to eye health promotion

Sithole, Hlupheka Lawrence 05 1900 (has links)
D. Litt et Phil. (Literature and Philosophy) / Eye health promotion is an important aspect of VISION 2020 campaign that aims to eliminate unwarranted cases of avoidable blindness worldwide by the year 2020. Most developing countries, including South Africa, have a serious burden of eye diseases and unwarranted causes of visual impairment and blindness. The purpose of this research therefore was to highlight the lack of an integrated eye health promotion policy in the South African primary health care system which can play a major role in the elimination of this burden of disease and also to make proposals for eye health promotion policy development in South Africa. A combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods was used in this study. Questionnaires and interviews were conducted with all national and provincial health managers of portfolios relevant to eye care. Also, various health policy documents were requested from the National and Provincial Department of Health to ascertain claims of any existing guidelines on eye care. The policy documents and guidelines obtained had no specific reference to eye health promotion. Only 11 (23%) of the managers of provincial health directorates reported that they have integrated vision screening in their health promotion programmes as part of eye health promotion strategies. Eye care managers in the provinces reported that school visits accounted for 75% of eye health promotion programmes target areas. Also, apart from the Northern Cape Province which has no eye care manager and consequently no eye health promotion programmes, the Western Cape Province also does not have eye health promotion programmes and relies mostly on private sector for eye care services. The lack of an integrated eye health promotion policy and most probably the lack of a dedicated directorate that deals with eye health promotion issues may be a contributing factor to the overwhelming lack of integrated eye health promotion activities in South Africa. It is therefore recommended that an integrated eye health promotion model be developed and be part of the South African primary health care system. / Health Studies
7

A critical analysis of the South African health policies and programmes with regard to eye health promotion

Sithole, Hlupheka Lawrence 05 1900 (has links)
Eye health promotion is an important aspect of VISION 2020 campaign that aims to eliminate unwarranted cases of avoidable blindness worldwide by the year 2020. Most developing countries, including South Africa, have a serious burden of eye diseases and unwarranted causes of visual impairment and blindness. The purpose of this research therefore was to highlight the lack of an integrated eye health promotion policy in the South African primary health care system which can play a major role in the elimination of this burden of disease and also to make proposals for eye health promotion policy development in South Africa. A combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods was used in this study. Questionnaires and interviews were conducted with all national and provincial health managers of portfolios relevant to eye care. Also, various health policy documents were requested from the National and Provincial Department of Health to ascertain claims of any existing guidelines on eye care. The policy documents and guidelines obtained had no specific reference to eye health promotion. Only 11 (23%) of the managers of provincial health directorates reported that they have integrated vision screening in their health promotion programmes as part of eye health promotion strategies. Eye care managers in the provinces reported that school visits accounted for 75% of eye health promotion programmes target areas. Also, apart from the Northern Cape Province which has no eye care manager and consequently no eye health promotion programmes, the Western Cape Province also does not have eye health promotion programmes and relies mostly on private sector for eye care services. The lack of an integrated eye health promotion policy and most probably the lack of a dedicated directorate that deals with eye health promotion issues may be a contributing factor to the overwhelming lack of integrated eye health promotion activities in South Africa. It is therefore recommended that an integrated eye health promotion model be developed and be part of the South African primary health care system. / Health Studies / D. Litt et Phil. (Health Studies)

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