Document Type
Presentation
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Publication Date
6-28-2024
Abstract
Abstract
Visual impairment remains a significant public health challenge in Africa, with an estimated 26.3 million people suffering from some form of vision loss. In Africa, the reliance on traditional eye medicine as a form of healthcare for ocular conditions is driven by cultural acceptability, affordability, accessibility, and misconceptions surrounding modern medical treatments. However, the efficacy and safety of traditional medicines varies and can lead to harmful eye related outcomes. Our retrospective study investigates the use and outcomes of Traditional Eye Treatment (TET) among patients at a primary eye clinic in Liberia, covering the period from January 2018 to December 2020. Utilizing an EMR database, patients were identified through keywords and relevant demographic and clinical information was extracted. A total of 42 patients who had used TET (24 males and 18 females) were included. The mean age was 47.16 years (range 18-79 years). A significant portion of the participants (76.19%) resided in counties devoid of eye care facilities, while the remainder (23.8%) lived in areas with access to an ophthalmologist. The common ocular conditions leading patients to seek TET was mechanical injury (47.62%). Notably, patients delayed seeking professional eye care for an average of 8.6 years after the initial onset of symptoms. On presentation, thirty patients (71.43%) were blind in the affected eye, 5 (11.9%) patients had best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) ranging between 20/40-20/200 and 7 (16.66%) patients had BCVA of 20/20. The cause of visual morbidity in most patients was corneal scar (30, 85.71%), cataract (3, 8.57%) and decompensated cornea (2, 5.71%). The findings underscore the urgent need for enhanced eye care services, public health education, and awareness in regions lacking adequate eye care facilities. Such improvements are critical to prevent the severe outcomes associated with delayed treatment and reliance on traditional remedies.
Lay Summary
Vision loss is a significant global health issue, affecting millions of people worldwide. In Africa, about 26.3 million people suffer from some form of vision impairment. This is a serious problem because vision loss can greatly impact a person’s quality of life, making it hard to work, learn, and live independently. Across many countries in Africa, people often turn to traditional medicines to treat various health conditions. Reliance on traditional medicine stems from cultural beliefs, affordability, and the convenience of traditional healers. However, these traditional eye treatments can often lead to severe eye conditions and even blindness, sometimes causing more harm than good. There have been no studies on the use of traditional eye treatments in Liberia. Therefore, we wanted to investigate the patterns of who is using traditional eye treatments to target future interventions. We reviewed the health records of patients who presented to the Liberia Eye Center, searching for patients who had a history of using traditional eye treatments. Our search resulted in 42 patients. The group included 24 men and 18 women, with an average age of 47 years. We found that most of the patients who used traditional eye treatments came from regions without an eye doctor. The main reason people used traditional eye treatments was for eye injuries. Unfortunately, many patients waited a long time—an average of 8.6 years—before seeking professional help. By the time they visited the clinic, 71% of them were already blind in the affected eye. Common issues included corneal scars, cataracts, and severe corneal damage. Our findings show a clear need for better eye care services and public health education in Liberia. Improving access to professional eye care and educating people about the risks of traditional eye treatments can help prevent serious vision problems. It is important to combine traditional health practices with modern medical care to improve eye health in the region. By doing so, we may reduce the number of people suffering from severe vision loss in Liberia.
Recommended Citation
Rizvi, Fatima, "Patterns and Implications of Traditional Eye Treatments in Liberia: A Retrospective Clinic Study" (2024). Master of Public Health Capstone Presentations. Presentation 561.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/mphcapstone_presentation/561
Language
English
Comments
Presentation: 4:44
Poster attached as supplemental file below