Abstract

Background: Myopia, also known as near-sightedness/short sightedness, is a common type of refractive error. Myopia is already one of the major causes of vision impairment and blindness and is projected to affect almost half of the world’s population within 40 years. It affects performance in school and has a negative influence on the future life of the child. This warrants early detection and treatment of refractive errors to prevent permanent disability.

Purpose: Present study was planned to determine, the prevalence of myopia and its risk factor among school children.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study done in 7 Public and private elementary schools on 365 school children of 12 – 15 years. The study participants were selected by stratified random sampling. The study parameters were school screening for visual acuity (VA) evaluation and ocular examination at Debre Brehan hospital. Children with visual acuity <6/9 were undergone objective refraction. The various risk factors involved were assessed using a pretested questionnaire. The analysed by using SPSS version 20. Proportions and summary statistics were performed. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regressions were used to see the relationship between variables and to determine the independent predictors.

Results: The study was comprised of 41.9 % males and 58.1% females from 7 randomly selected elementary schools with a response rate of 91.5%. The prevalence of myopia was 7.8%. It was more among girls 14 (4.9%) than boys12 (3.5%). Those participants who enrolled at private school were 2.686 times more likely to develop myopia (AOR=2.682 [95% CI: 1.029, 6.993]). This study also showed those participants from non-myopic families 99% less likely to develop myopia (AOR=0.101 [95%CI: 0.020, 0.499])

Conclusions: The prevalence of myopia among Debreberhan Town Elementary school children was low 7.8%. Being from a non-myopic family and working distance of >30cm were positively associated with myopia. Whereas learning at private school was negatively associated with myopia.

Keywords: Myopia, Elementary school, Debreberhan Town, Ethiopia