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Demographics of Patients Using Harmful/Traditional Eye Medications in Anya Specialist Eye Clinic, Umuahia, South East Nigeria

Received: 30 August 2020     Accepted: 28 September 2020     Published: 12 October 2020
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Abstract

Background: Traditional eye medication (TEM) is common in Sub-Saharan Africa especially as it is part of the well practiced Traditional Alternate and Complementary Medicine. Despite several observed harmful effects and documented ocular morbidity from TEM, and the fact that the TEMs have no scientific background to their use, they are applied to the eyes as medication. This study is to look at the demographics of the patients with a history of TEM use presenting to a private clinic in South East Nigeria, with a view of targeted health education and promotion. Method: A retrospective review of patients’ hospital records, seen in Anya Specialist Eye Clinic, Umuahia Abia State Nigeria, between January 2019 and June 2020 was done. Data from patients’ records who self-reported to have used Harmful/Traditional Eye Medications before presentation at the clinic, during the period under consideration were selected, and their social/demographic characteristics extracted. Results: A total of 42 subjects with TEM use were recorded. There were 27 males (64.3%) and 15 females (35.7%) with age range from 0 to 70 years. Their educational levels were; no formal education (26.1%), primary (24%), secondary (28.5%) and tertiary (21.5%). More than 57% of the subjects were peasant farmers or unemployed, while 24%, 4.7%, 4.7% and 2.4% were traders, students, retired civil servants and teachers respectively. Conclusion: Farmers and unemployed subjects were more likely to use harmful TEM than other occupations. Surprisingly educational level did not significantly influence the rate of use of TEM. The assumption that individuals with higher educational status have a lower risk of TEM use may be erroneous. There should be an increase in awareness of the dangers of TEM use to the general public.

Published in International Journal of Ophthalmology & Visual Science (Volume 5, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijovs.20200503.13
Page(s) 80-83
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Traditional Eye Medication, Demographics, South East Nigeria, Umuahia

References
[1] Nwosu, S. N. N. & Obidiozor, J. U. Incidence and risk factors for traditional eye medicine use among patients at a tertiary eye hospital in Nigeria. Niger. J. Clin. Pract. 14, 405–407 (2011).
[2] Foster, A. & Johnson, G. G. Traditional eye medicines good or bad news ? Br. J. Ophthalmol. 78, 1994 (1994).
[3] Eze, B. I., Chuka-okosa, C. M. & Uche, J. N. Traditional eye medicine use by newly presenting ophthalmic patients to a teaching hospital in south-eastern Nigeria : socio-demographic and clinical correlates. BMC Complement. Altern. Med. 9, 9–40 (2009).
[4] Kayoma, D. & Ukponmwan, C. DETERMINANTS OF THE USE OF TRADITIONAL EYE MEDICATION IN A SEMI-URBAN COMMUNITY IN SOUTHERN NIGERIA. J. West african Coll. Surg. 6, (2016).
[5] Achigbu, E. O. & Achigbu, K. I. Traditional eye medicine use among ophthalmic patients attending a secondary health care center in Southeast Nigeria. Port Harcourt Med. J. 11, 79–83 (2017).
[6] James, P. B., Wardle, J., Steel, A. & Adams, J. Traditional, complementary and alternative medicine use in Sub-Saharan Africa : a systematic review. BMJ Glob. Heal. 3, (2018).
[7] Ajite, K. O. & Fadamiro, O. C. Prevalence of Harmful / Traditional Medication Use in Traumatic Eye Injury. Glob. J. Health Sci. 5, 55–59 (2013).
[8] Aghaji, A., Ezeome, I. & Ezeome, E. Evaluation of Content and Cost of Traditional Eye Medication in a Resource‑poor Country – Implications for Eye Care Practice and Policy. Niger. J. Clin. Pract. 21, 1514–1519 (2018).
[9] Ebeigbe, J. A. Traditional eye medicine practice in Benin-City, Nigeria. South African Optom. 72, 167–172 (2013).
[10] Osahon, A. Consequences of traditional eye medication in U. B. T. H. Benin City. Niger. J. Ophthalmol. 3, 51–54 (1995).
[11] Courtright, P., Lewallen, S., Kanjaloti, S. & Divala, D. Traditional eye medicine use among patients with corneal disease in rural Malawi. Br J Ophthalmol. 78, 810–812 (1994).
[12] Prajna, V., Pillai, M., Manimegalai, I. & Srinivasan, M. use of Traditional eye medications by corneal ulcer patients presenting in a hospital in South India. Indian J Ophthalmol 47, 15–18 (1999).
[13] Mselle, J. Visual impact of using traditional medicine on the injured eye in Africa. Acta Trop. 70, 185–192 (1998).
[14] Unpublished. Anya Specialist Eye Clinic Report. (2019).
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    Kalu Anya, Nwachukwu Kennedy Ugo, Otuka Olufunmi Ijeoma, Eweputanna Lisa. (2020). Demographics of Patients Using Harmful/Traditional Eye Medications in Anya Specialist Eye Clinic, Umuahia, South East Nigeria. International Journal of Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 5(3), 80-83. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijovs.20200503.13

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    ACS Style

    Kalu Anya; Nwachukwu Kennedy Ugo; Otuka Olufunmi Ijeoma; Eweputanna Lisa. Demographics of Patients Using Harmful/Traditional Eye Medications in Anya Specialist Eye Clinic, Umuahia, South East Nigeria. Int. J. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2020, 5(3), 80-83. doi: 10.11648/j.ijovs.20200503.13

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    AMA Style

    Kalu Anya, Nwachukwu Kennedy Ugo, Otuka Olufunmi Ijeoma, Eweputanna Lisa. Demographics of Patients Using Harmful/Traditional Eye Medications in Anya Specialist Eye Clinic, Umuahia, South East Nigeria. Int J Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2020;5(3):80-83. doi: 10.11648/j.ijovs.20200503.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijovs.20200503.13,
      author = {Kalu Anya and Nwachukwu Kennedy Ugo and Otuka Olufunmi Ijeoma and Eweputanna Lisa},
      title = {Demographics of Patients Using Harmful/Traditional Eye Medications in Anya Specialist Eye Clinic, Umuahia, South East Nigeria},
      journal = {International Journal of Ophthalmology & Visual Science},
      volume = {5},
      number = {3},
      pages = {80-83},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijovs.20200503.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijovs.20200503.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijovs.20200503.13},
      abstract = {Background: Traditional eye medication (TEM) is common in Sub-Saharan Africa especially as it is part of the well practiced Traditional Alternate and Complementary Medicine. Despite several observed harmful effects and documented ocular morbidity from TEM, and the fact that the TEMs have no scientific background to their use, they are applied to the eyes as medication. This study is to look at the demographics of the patients with a history of TEM use presenting to a private clinic in South East Nigeria, with a view of targeted health education and promotion. Method: A retrospective review of patients’ hospital records, seen in Anya Specialist Eye Clinic, Umuahia Abia State Nigeria, between January 2019 and June 2020 was done. Data from patients’ records who self-reported to have used Harmful/Traditional Eye Medications before presentation at the clinic, during the period under consideration were selected, and their social/demographic characteristics extracted. Results: A total of 42 subjects with TEM use were recorded. There were 27 males (64.3%) and 15 females (35.7%) with age range from 0 to 70 years. Their educational levels were; no formal education (26.1%), primary (24%), secondary (28.5%) and tertiary (21.5%). More than 57% of the subjects were peasant farmers or unemployed, while 24%, 4.7%, 4.7% and 2.4% were traders, students, retired civil servants and teachers respectively. Conclusion: Farmers and unemployed subjects were more likely to use harmful TEM than other occupations. Surprisingly educational level did not significantly influence the rate of use of TEM. The assumption that individuals with higher educational status have a lower risk of TEM use may be erroneous. There should be an increase in awareness of the dangers of TEM use to the general public.},
     year = {2020}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Demographics of Patients Using Harmful/Traditional Eye Medications in Anya Specialist Eye Clinic, Umuahia, South East Nigeria
    AU  - Kalu Anya
    AU  - Nwachukwu Kennedy Ugo
    AU  - Otuka Olufunmi Ijeoma
    AU  - Eweputanna Lisa
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    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijovs.20200503.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijovs.20200503.13
    T2  - International Journal of Ophthalmology & Visual Science
    JF  - International Journal of Ophthalmology & Visual Science
    JO  - International Journal of Ophthalmology & Visual Science
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    EP  - 83
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2637-3858
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijovs.20200503.13
    AB  - Background: Traditional eye medication (TEM) is common in Sub-Saharan Africa especially as it is part of the well practiced Traditional Alternate and Complementary Medicine. Despite several observed harmful effects and documented ocular morbidity from TEM, and the fact that the TEMs have no scientific background to their use, they are applied to the eyes as medication. This study is to look at the demographics of the patients with a history of TEM use presenting to a private clinic in South East Nigeria, with a view of targeted health education and promotion. Method: A retrospective review of patients’ hospital records, seen in Anya Specialist Eye Clinic, Umuahia Abia State Nigeria, between January 2019 and June 2020 was done. Data from patients’ records who self-reported to have used Harmful/Traditional Eye Medications before presentation at the clinic, during the period under consideration were selected, and their social/demographic characteristics extracted. Results: A total of 42 subjects with TEM use were recorded. There were 27 males (64.3%) and 15 females (35.7%) with age range from 0 to 70 years. Their educational levels were; no formal education (26.1%), primary (24%), secondary (28.5%) and tertiary (21.5%). More than 57% of the subjects were peasant farmers or unemployed, while 24%, 4.7%, 4.7% and 2.4% were traders, students, retired civil servants and teachers respectively. Conclusion: Farmers and unemployed subjects were more likely to use harmful TEM than other occupations. Surprisingly educational level did not significantly influence the rate of use of TEM. The assumption that individuals with higher educational status have a lower risk of TEM use may be erroneous. There should be an increase in awareness of the dangers of TEM use to the general public.
    VL  - 5
    IS  - 3
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Author Information
  • Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Surgery, Abia State University Uturu, Uturu, Nigeria

  • Department of Ophthalmology, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria

  • Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Surgery, Abia State University Uturu, Uturu, Nigeria

  • Radiology Unit, Department of Surgery, Abia State University Uturu, Uturu, Nigeria

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