CHILD to Child and CHILD to Family Communication As a Strategy to Improve Awareness and Uptake of Eye Care Services in Rural South India

CHILD-TO-Child AND CHILD-TO-Family Communication as a Strategy to Improve Awareness and Uptake of Eye Care Services in Rural South India.

Kiran Didugu¹, Dr. Rohit Khanna², Dr. Usha Raman²

1 Centre for Health Promotion, Hyderabad, India

2 L V Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India

 

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of services of children to promote relevant eye health messages among other children and their families so as to influence attitudes and practices relating to eye health care and its utilization.       

 

Research Design: Schoolchildren of grades 6^th-8^th from 13 schools in rural Andhra Pradesh were oriented to the facts of eye healthcare with the help of trained teachers.  The children were asked to perform basic vision test on their family members, neighbours and peers using a Snellen 6/12 opto-type ‘E’ chart and to convey eye health messages. They were instructed to refer those they suspected as having eye problems to the nearby Vision Centres. 

 

Results: 

In a week period, 1,087 children screened 12,912 people. Of these, 1,884(15%) were suspected as having vision problems and were referred to nearby vision center.  After two months, 781(41%) referred people visited the vision centers for further eye examination. Pre and post training evaluation showed an increase in basic knowledge about parts of eye, signs and symptoms of eye diseases, and awareness on eye ailments due to nutritional deficiency among the children, parents and peer group members.

 

Impact:  Children can understand and communicate eye health messages clearly and function as collaborators in health promotion and education activities at the community level.