FACTORS INFLUENCING THE INCIDENCE OF GLAUCOMA AMONG ADULT PATIENTS IN HOSPITALS

FACTORS INFLUENCING THE INCIDENCE OF GLAUCOMA AMONG ADULT PATIENTS IN HOSPITALS

TABLE OFCONTENTS

Title Page

Approval

Certification

Dedication

Acknowledgement

Abstract

Table of Contents

CHAPTERONE -INTRODUCTION

1.1          Background of the Study

1.2          Statement of the Problem

1.3          Purpose of the Study

1.4          Significance of the Study

1.5          Scope of the Study

1.6          Research Questions

1.7          Hypothesis of the Study

1.8          Limitation of the Study

1.9          Definition of Terms

CHAPTERTWO- REVIEW OF RELATEDLITERATURE

2.1          The Concept of Glaucoma

2.2          Causes of Glaucoma

2.3          The Incidence of Glaucoma

2.4          Factors Influencing the Incidence of Glaucoma

2.5          Prevention and Management of Glaucoma

2.6          Summary of the Review of Literature

CHAPTER THREE -METHODOLOGY

3.1          Research Design

3.2          Area of Study

3.3          Population of the Study

3.4          Sample and Sampling Technique

3.5          Instrument for Data Collection

3.6          Validity of the Instruments

3.7          Reliability of the Instruments

3.8          Method of Data Collection

3.8          Method of Data Analysis

CHAPTE RFOUR PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA

4.1          Testing of Hypothesis

CHAPTER FIVE – SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1          Summary

5.2          Conclusions

5.3          Recommendations

References

Appendix

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background to the Study

In Nigeria, glaucoma constitutes a medical, public health and socio- economic problem. This is because Nigeria is found to be one of the most endemic countries in the world, accounting for a sizeable proportion  of the global cases, with about 6.7 million patients  with  glaucoma worldwide (WHO, 1992). The damaging and insidious nature of glaucoma make it spread gradually without being noticed but causes serious harm.

Indeed, the Basic Health Service (BHS) scheme formed an important health programme of the Third Development Plan (1975-1980) and Fourth Development Plan (1981-1985) of the Federal Government.

Under the BHS the government intended to significantly improve the modern health care system of the country within the framework of a three-tier national comprehensive health care delivery system mentioned earlier.

FACTORS INFLUENCING THE INCIDENCE OF GLAUCOMA AMONG ADULT PATIENTS IN HOSPITALS

Record achievement from the implementation of the BHS shows increases in personnel and institutions. For example, the number of registered medical practitioners in Nigeria rose from 10,399 in 1981 to 16,145 in 1987 (Mbanefo, Soyibo & Anyanwu) 1996.

However, the unsuccessful implementation of the BHS programme made the federal government to embark on a new direction health care delivery which makes Primary Health Care (PHC) the focus.

Moreover, there was need for close involvement of the local governments, local communities, and individuals in the implementation of the PHC in collaboration with the other two tiers of government. Specifically, activities that formed part of the PHC include: National Programme on Immunization (NPI), Campaign against River blindness, Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT), among others (FMH, 1988). The factors influencing the incidence of glaucoma among adult patients in hospitals.

Furthermore, the incidence of glaucoma among adult patients refers to the rate of occurrence of this disease. In epidemiology the interest is in the number of new cases arising in a given period of time in a specified group of people.

In addition, the American Academy of ophthalmology (1983) notes that an estimated 2 million people have been identified as having glaucoma. Of these 889,000 are visually impaired, 67,150 are legally blind and each year an additional 5,500 people become blind from glaucoma.

Equally, in 1997 glaucoma caused 36,000 hospital admission in America, 25 million office visits and more than $440 million spent on direct health cost on glaucoma.

It is from the implication of the data as given above and the fact that glaucoma is one of the avoidable causes of blindness that the need to maintain adequate and effective health care delivery system becomes imperative. Therefore this study examines the factors responsible for the occurrence of glaucoma among adult patients in Anambra state (2002- 2006).

1.2       Statement of the Problem

For Nigeria to achieve the state of complete physical, mental and social well-being of the population there is need to create awareness and stimulate actions from the community to achieve health. Thus, this can be accomplished through an effective health education which according to Onukwubiri (1994), bridges the gap between health information and health practices. It is any combination of methods designed to facilitate voluntary change of behaviours of individuals or groups to promote health.

In Anambra state there seems to be no relationship between health practices and the information available on people’s health. The researcher observed during her clinical posting to Eye clinic at the General Hospital Enugwu-ukwu that most adult glaucoma patients reported to the clinic when their eye conditions had deteriorated. Furthermore, the adults suffering from the disease are not aware of the disease occurrence.

The central focus of this study therefore borders on identifying the factors responsible for the spread of glaucoma in Anambra State. In other words what are those constraints to effective primary health care delivery and health education in the state. Therefore, this is done by studying the records of adult patients in the three General Hospitals in Anambra State with functional eye clinics for the period between 2002 –2006.

1.3     Purpose of the Study

The broad purpose of the study is to examine the factors influencing the incidence of glaucoma among adult patients (in general hospitals) in Anambra state (2002 – 2006) and to highlight the  problems  resulting from lack of information on factors influencing the incidence of  glaucoma. Specifically, the specific objectives of the study include to:

1. determine the incidence of glaucoma among adult patients in Anambra state between 2002 –2006.
2. verify the incidence of glaucoma in relation to family history in Anambra state between 2002 –2006.
3. identify the incidence of glaucoma in relation to gender in Anambra state between 2002 to2006.
4. identify other factors influencing the incidence of glaucoma in adult patients in Anambra state from 2002 –2006.
5. ascertain the number of people affected by glaucoma in relation to age from 2002 –2006.
6. determine the relation between health information and incidence of glaucoma in Anambra State, and
7. examine the level of awareness of the glaucoma in Anambra state.

1.4       Significance of the Study

The result of the study will be of immense benefit to health institutions, community members, researchers and government. The study on the factors influencing the incidence of glaucoma will give a preview of the level of incidence for intervention strategic planning.

Furthermore, this research will help to create awareness of the disease to the community members, as well as serve as related literature to other researchers by providing a fore-knowledge of what is obtainable and available on the ground as it concerns the area of study.

1.5       Scope of Study

The study is a determination of the factors influencing the incidence of glaucoma in adult patients in Anambra state between 2002 and 2006. This means that only available data on adult patients who visited the General Hospital in Awka, Enugwu-ukwu and Onitsha are used for the study. Another delimitation is that adults between the ages of  40  years  and above is mostly on open angle glaucoma.

1.6       Research Questions

1. What is the incidence of glaucoma among adult patients in Anambra state between 2002 and2006?
2. What is the incidence of glaucoma in relation to family history in Anambra state from 2002 –2006?
3. What is the incidence of glaucoma in relation to gender in Anambra state from 2002 –2006?
4. What other factors influence the incidence of glaucoma in adult patients in Anambra state from 2002 –2006?
5. What is the number of people affected by glaucoma in relation  to age from 2002 –2006?
6. How does health information effect the incidence of glaucoma in Anambra state?
7. What is the level of awareness of glaucoma in Anambra state?

1.7       Hypotheses of the Study

Ho1:    There is no significant relationship between the incidence of glaucoma disease among different age groups of the study from 2002 –2006.

Ho2:    There is no significant difference in the incidence of glaucoma between males and females of the study group from 2002 –2006.

Ho3:    There is no significant difference in the incidence of glaucoma and hereditary among the study group from 2002 –2006.

Ho4:      There is no significant relationship between health information and the incidence of glaucoma in Anambra state.

1.8       Limitation of the Study

A major constraint during the study is the attitude of the hospital personnel in releasing the records and files for investigation.

Conclusions

Millions of people living in Nigeria are cut off from the mainstream of economic and social development and this puts a lot of stress on the management of disease such as glaucoma which is one of the avoidable causes of blindness. Thus, this makes adequate and effective care delivery system imperative. It becomes necessary therefore to identify factors responsible for the spread of glaucoma in Anambra state.

Appropriate research questions and hypotheses are formulated to obtain data for the solution of the main objective. The aim therefore is to identify the factors influencing the incidence of glaucoma in order to give a preview of the level of occurrence for intervention strategic planning. The factors influencing the incidence of glaucoma among adult patients in hospitals.

The literature on past studies on the factors influencing the incidence of glaucoma for the conceptual explication of glaucoma, the incidence of glaucoma, factors influencing the incidence, glaucoma in Nigeria and prevention and management of glaucoma. The Health Belief Model (HBM) was used as a theoretical framework with the Social Learning Theory.

The structure of the research is descriptive and a cohort survey as it seeks to describe the distribution and incidence of certain characteristics within Anambra state of persons who experienced the same significance life event within a specified period of time. Three general hospitals (Awka, Enugwu-ukwu and Onitsha) from the 34 in the state were used to represent the entire state. Data was collected through primary and secondary sources of folders and cards on 1448 patients.

The random sampling technique with the multi-stage sampling procedure and the used of table and percentage in data presentation was used.  The chi-squared (X²) was used in testing the hypotheses proposed. Although the incidence rate of glaucoma is changeable in Anambra state, there is a significant relationship between the incidences among different age groups with ten years interval.

Statistically, there is a significant difference in the incidence of glaucoma between males and females and hereditary among the study group as health information does not seen to influence glaucoma in Anambra state.

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