Objective:To determine the knowledge,attitude and practice of rural dwellers to the use of traditional eye medications(TEM).Methods: A cross-sectional,descriptive study using a reseacher administered structured questi...Objective:To determine the knowledge,attitude and practice of rural dwellers to the use of traditional eye medications(TEM).Methods: A cross-sectional,descriptive study using a reseacher administered structured questionnaire was carried out in Iviari community in Etsako-East Local Government Area(LGA) of Edo State,Nigeria.A systematic sampling method was used.Three hundred and thirty six(336) people aged 15years and above(range 15-90years) comprised the participants.The data was analysed using Microsoft excel spreadsheet and the Statistical Package for Social Scientists(SPSS).Results: Fifty one(51,49.5%) out of 103 people with eye disease or a past history of eye disease used TEM.There was no association between the sex,level of education,occupation of participants and the use of TEM.There was a significant association between African traditional religion and the use of TEM(P= 0.0266).Thirty eight(38,36.9%) people were treated by medical doctors and nurses.Fourteen people(13.6%) had used TEM before seeking orthodox medical treatment.The most common source of TEM was self or friends and relations(38.9%).Traditional healers or herbalists were the source in 12 people(11.7%).One hundred and ten(32.7%) respondents knew some form of traditional eye medication and the commonest was herbal extract(66,60%),others were native powder,sugar solution,urine,breast milk,alum and couching.One hundred(29.7%) people said that the use of TEM was beneficial,187(55.7%) said there was no benefit while 49(14.6%) did not know.Conclusion: The knowledge and use of TEM in this community is high.There is a need to make eye care accessible and affordable to the people.Health education and public enlightenment campaigns of people in this community and rural dwellers in Nigeria about the harmful effects of TEM should be done.The establishments of outreach centres in rural areas by ophthalmology departments in secondary and tertiary hospitals will help in providing affordable and accessible eye care services and thus reduce the use of TEM by them.展开更多
文摘Objective:To determine the knowledge,attitude and practice of rural dwellers to the use of traditional eye medications(TEM).Methods: A cross-sectional,descriptive study using a reseacher administered structured questionnaire was carried out in Iviari community in Etsako-East Local Government Area(LGA) of Edo State,Nigeria.A systematic sampling method was used.Three hundred and thirty six(336) people aged 15years and above(range 15-90years) comprised the participants.The data was analysed using Microsoft excel spreadsheet and the Statistical Package for Social Scientists(SPSS).Results: Fifty one(51,49.5%) out of 103 people with eye disease or a past history of eye disease used TEM.There was no association between the sex,level of education,occupation of participants and the use of TEM.There was a significant association between African traditional religion and the use of TEM(P= 0.0266).Thirty eight(38,36.9%) people were treated by medical doctors and nurses.Fourteen people(13.6%) had used TEM before seeking orthodox medical treatment.The most common source of TEM was self or friends and relations(38.9%).Traditional healers or herbalists were the source in 12 people(11.7%).One hundred and ten(32.7%) respondents knew some form of traditional eye medication and the commonest was herbal extract(66,60%),others were native powder,sugar solution,urine,breast milk,alum and couching.One hundred(29.7%) people said that the use of TEM was beneficial,187(55.7%) said there was no benefit while 49(14.6%) did not know.Conclusion: The knowledge and use of TEM in this community is high.There is a need to make eye care accessible and affordable to the people.Health education and public enlightenment campaigns of people in this community and rural dwellers in Nigeria about the harmful effects of TEM should be done.The establishments of outreach centres in rural areas by ophthalmology departments in secondary and tertiary hospitals will help in providing affordable and accessible eye care services and thus reduce the use of TEM by them.
