Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Parents Regarding Ophthalmological Screening of Preschool-Aged Children in Jazan, Saudi Arabia
Abstract
:1. Introduction
- To assess parental knowledge of the importance of eye screening for preschool children (3–5 years) in the Jazan region (Saudi Arabia);
- To determine parents’ attitudes toward having their children screened for eye diseases;
- To determine whether parents have taken their children for eye screening and the reasons behind this;
- To determine the socio-demographic factors that are relevant for parents to take their children to health centers for ophthalmological screening.
2. Methods
2.1. Study Design Setting and Population
2.2. Sample Size and Design
2.3. Method of Data Collection, Study Tools, and Piloting
2.4. Operational Definitions and Study Variables
2.5. Data Management and Statistical Analysis
2.6. Ethical Consideration
3. Results
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Characteristics | All Parents | Level of Knowledge | p-Value | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Low | Moderate | High | ||||||||
N | % | N | % | N | % | N | % | |||
Gender | Male | 173 | (34.4) | 37 | (21.4) | 73 | (42.2) | 63 | (36.4) | 0.765 |
Female | 330 | (65.6) | 71 | (21.5) | 129 | (39.1) | 130 | (39.4) | ||
Age Groups | 18–24 years | 78 | (15.5) | 19 | (24.4) | 29 | (37.2) | 30 | (38.5) | 0.547 |
25–39 years | 217 | (43.1) | 45 | (20.7) | 80 | (36.9) | 92 | (42.4) | ||
40–54 years | 186 | (37.0) | 38 | (20.4) | 85 | (45.7) | 63 | (33.9) | ||
55 years or more | 22 | (4.4) | 6 | (27.3) | 8 | (36.4) | 8 | (36.4) | ||
Educational Level | Postgraduate | 33 | (6.6) | 6 | (18.2) | 12 | (36.4) | 15 | (45.5) | 0.013 |
University | 323 | (64.2) | 60 | (18.6) | 137 | (42.4) | 126 | (39.0) | ||
High school | 89 | (17.7) | 19 | (21.3) | 37 | (41.6) | 33 | (37.1) | ||
Intermediate | 19 | (3.8) | 6 | (31.6) | 4 | (21.1) | 9 | (47.4) | ||
Primary | 39 | (7.8) | 15 | (51.7) | 9 | (31.0) | 5 | (17.2) | ||
Occupation | Governmental sector | 241 | (47.9) | 52 | (21.6) | 104 | (43.2) | 85 | (35.3) | 0.617 |
Private sector | 46 | (9.1) | 10 | (21.7) | 14 | (30.4) | 22 | (47.8) | ||
Retired | 129 | (25.6) | 29 | (22.5) | 52 | (40.3) | 48 | (37.2) | ||
Not working | 87 | (17.3) | 17 | (19.5) | 32 | (36.8) | 38 | (43.7) | ||
Monthly Income | Less than 5000 | 131 | (26.0) | 31 | (23.7) | 49 | (37.4) | 51 | (38.9) | 0.790 |
5000 to 10,000 | 146 | (29.00 | 42 | (28.8) | 54 | (37.0) | 50 | (34.2) | ||
10,000–15,000 | 123 | (24.5) | 20 | (16.3) | 57 | (46.3) | 46 | (37.4) | ||
15,000 and more | 103 | (20.5) | 15 | (14.6) | 42 | (40.8) | 46 | (44.7) | ||
Nationality | Saudi | 491 | (97.6) | 104 | (21.2) | 200 | (40.7) | 187 | (38.1) | 0.231 |
Non-Saudi | 12 | (2.4) | 4 | (33.3) | 2 | (16.7) | 6 | (50.0) | ||
Does your child have an eye problem | Yes | 112 | (22.3) | 28 | (25.0) | 50 | (44.6) | 34 | (30.4) | 0.138 |
No | 391 | (77.7) | 80 | (20.5) | 152 | (38.9) | 159 | (40.7) | ||
Parents’ Overall Level of Knowledge | 108 | (20.5) | 202 | (40.2) | 193 | (38.4) |
Items | All Parents | Gender | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fathers | Mothers | p-Value | ||||||
N | % | N | % | N | % | |||
Can neglecting visual problems lead to permanent blindness in children? | Yes | 286 | (56.9) | 98 | (56.6) | 188 | (57.0) | 0.674 |
No | 26 | (5.2) | 11 | (6.4) | 15 | (4.5) | ||
I do not know | 191 | (38.0) | 64 | (37.0) | 127 | (38.5) | ||
Does early treatment of lazy eyes lead to better results? | Yes | 430 | (85.5) | 140 | (80.9) | 290 | (87.9) | 0.109 |
No | 9 | (1.8) | 4 | (2.3) | 5 | (1.5) | ||
I do not know | 64 | (12.7) | 29 | (16.8) | 35 | (10.6) | ||
Constant rubbing of the eye requires visiting an ophthalmologist. | Yes | 369 | (73.4) | 132 | (76.3) | 237 | (71.8) | 0.280 |
No | 134 | (26.6) | 41 | (23.7) | 93 | (28.2) | ||
Eye redness and tears require visiting an ophthalmologist. | Yes | 408 | (81.1) | 145 | (83.8) | 263 | (79.7) | 0.262 |
No | 95 | (18.9) | 28 | (16.2) | 67 | (20.3) | ||
If the child’s eyes do not move in unison in the same direction, a visit to the ophthalmologist is required. | Yes | 433 | (86.1) | 153 | (88.4) | 280 | (84.8) | 0.269 |
No | 70 | (13.9) | 20 | (11.6) | 50 | (15.2) | ||
Difficulty distinguishing distant/near shapes. | Yes | 446 | (88.7) | 153 | (88.4) | 293 | (88.8) | 0.907 |
No | 57 | (11.3) | 20 | (11.6) | 37 | (11.2) | ||
Definition of lazy eye. | Incorrect | 366 | (72.8) | 129 | (74.6) | 237 | (71.8) | 0.511 |
Correct | 137 | (27.2) | 44 | (25.4) | 93 | (28.2) | ||
Definition of strabismus. | Incorrect | 104 | (20.7) | 41 | (23.7) | 63 | (19.1) | 0.225 |
Correct | 399 | (79.3) | 132 | (76.3) | 267 | (80.9) | ||
Definition of refractive errors. | Incorrect | 72 | (14.3) | 29 | (16.8) | 43 | (13.0) | 0.256 |
Correct | 431 | (85.7) | 144 | (83.2) | 287 | (87.0) |
Statements | All Parents | Gender | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fathers | Mothers | p-Value | ||||||
N | % | N | % | N | % | |||
Early eye examinations for children reduce the complications of visual problems. | Agree | 461 | (91.7) | 161 | (93.1) | 300 | (90.9) | 0.327 |
Not sure | 33 | (6.6) | 11 | (6.4) | 22 | (6.7) | ||
Disagree | 9 | (1.8) | 1 | (0.6) | 8 | (2.4) | ||
The increased use of electronic devices by children requires the need for an early eye examination. | Agree | 456 | (90.7) | 158 | (91.3) | 298 | (90.3) | 0.781 |
Not sure | 42 | (8.3) | 14 | (8.1) | 28 | (8.5) | ||
Disagree | 5 | (1.0) | 1 | (0.6) | 4 | (1.2) | ||
Will wearing glasses improve your child’s vision? | Agree | 262 | (52.1) | 79 | (45.7) | 183 | (55.5) | 0.107 |
Not sure | 208 | (41.4) | 82 | (47.4) | 126 | (38.2) | ||
Disagree | 33 | (6.6) | 12 | (6.9) | 21 | (6.4) | ||
Academic performance is affected by visual problems. | Agree | 345 | (68.6) | 115 | (66.5) | 230 | (69.7) | 0.738 |
Not sure | 107 | (21.3) | 40 | (23.1) | 67 | (20.3) | ||
Disagree | 51 | (10.1) | 18 | (10.4) | 33 | (10.0) | ||
Can early eye examinations of your child prevent or treat permanent damage from lazy eyes/blurriness and blurred vision? | Agree | 437 | (86.9) | 150 | (86.7) | 287 | (87.0) | 0.614 |
Not sure | 60 | (11.9) | 22 | (12.7) | 38 | (11.5) | ||
Disagree | 6 | (1.2) | 1 | (0.6) | 5 | (1.5) | ||
Do you think that children (under the age of six) are more likely to have strabismus? | Agree | 244 | (48.5) | 83 | (48.0) | 161 | (48.8) | 0.854 |
Not sure | 231 | (45.9) | 79 | (45.7) | 152 | (46.1) | ||
Disagree | 28 | (5.6) | 11 | (6.4) | 17 | (5.2) | ||
Do you think that early detection of myopia and farsightedness in children contributes to reducing complications? | Agree | 438 | (87.1) | 150 | (86.7) | 288 | (87.3) | 0.741 |
Not sure | 60 | (11.9) | 22 | (12.7) | 38 | (11.5) | ||
Disagree | 5 | (1.0) | 1 | (0.6) | 4 | (1.2) | ||
Does your child sitting close to the TV make you take him for an early eye examination? | Agree | 397 | (78.9) | 136 | (78.6) | 261 | (79.1) | 0.511 |
Not sure | 89 | (17.7) | 29 | (16.8) | 60 | (18.2) | ||
Disagree | 17 | (3.4) | 8 | (4.6) | 9 | (2.7) | ||
Does a genetic vision problem in the family increase the importance of early examination? | Agree | 427 | (84.9) | 145 | (83.8) | 282 | (85.5) | 0.887 |
Not sure | 65 | (12.9) | 24 | (13.9) | 41 | (12.4) | ||
Disagree | 11 | (2.2) | 4 | (2.3) | 7 | (2.1) | ||
Does having an eye examination center nearby increase your demand for an early examination of your child? | Agree | 434 | (86.3) | 150 | (86.7) | 284 | (86.1) | 0.155 |
Not sure | 59 | (11.7) | 17 | (9.8) | 42 | (12.7) | ||
Disagree | 10 | (2.0) | 6 | (3.5) | 4 | (1.2) |
Factors | All Parents | Gender | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fathers | Mothers | p-Value | ||||||
N | % | N | % | N | % | |||
Has your child ever had any type of visual examination? | Yes | 208 | (41.4) | 86 | (49.7) | 122 | (37.0) | 0.006 |
No | 295 | (58.6) | 87 | (50.3) | 208 | (63.0) | ||
Age of child when first eye exam was performed? | Less than one year | 25 | (10.3) | 8 | (8.5) | 17 | (11.5) | 0.758 |
One year to less than five | 113 | (46.7) | 45 | (47.9) | 68 | (45.9) | ||
Five years and more | 104 | (43.0) | 41 | (43.6) | 63 | (42.6) | ||
How many times has the child undergone a routine eye examination? | Every year | 42 | (16.1) | 19 | (19.0) | 23 | (14.3) | 0.196 |
More than once a year | 54 | (20.7) | 20 | (20.0) | 34 | (21.1) | ||
Every two years | 21 | (8.0) | 9 | (9.0) | 12 | (7.5) | ||
Every five years | 6 | (2.3) | 5 | (5.0) | 1 | (0.6) | ||
Only when the child reports a problem | 83 | (31.8) | 29 | (29.0) | 54 | (33.5) | ||
Not sure | 55 | (21.1) | 18 | (18.0) | 37 | (23.0) | ||
Reasons for conducting eye screening. | The child plays with toys from a close distance | 154 | (61.4) | 61 | (62.9) | 93 | (60.4) | 0.692 |
The child rubs his eye frequently | 115 | (46.2) | 42 | (46.2) | 73 | (46.2) | 0.994 | |
The child’s head tilts to one side frequently | 77 | (31.2) | 28 | (30.8) | 49 | (31.4) | 0.916 | |
The child suffers from a squint in the eyes | 66 | (26.7) | 29 | (31.5) | 37 | (23.9) | 0.189 | |
The child complains of double vision (one thing perceived as two) | 61 | (24.2) | 23 | (24.2) | 38 | (24.2) | 0.998 | |
The child suffers from frequent tears and has red eyes | 117 | (45.7) | 44 | (45.8) | 73 | (45.6) | 0.974 |
Variable | Coef | SE Coef | t-Value | p-Value |
---|---|---|---|---|
Constant | 70.72 | 2.57 | 27.48 | 0.000 |
Gender | ||||
Male (ref) | 0.98 | 1.91 | 0.51 | 0.609 |
Child with any eye problem | ||||
No (ref) | −6.07 | 2.45 | −2.48 | 0.014 |
Health center | ||||
No (ref) | 2.30 | 2.03 | 1.13 | 0.257 |
Conducted early screening | ||||
No (ref) | 5.45 | 2.10 | 2.60 | 0.010 |
Residence | ||||
Urban (ref) | −0.18 | 1.87 | −0.09 | 0.925 |
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Mahfouz, M.S.; Mahmoud, S.S.; Haroobi, S.Q.; Bahkali, L.M.; Numan, S.I.; Taheri, A.M.; Hakami, O.A.; Zunquti, O.A.; Khered, S.M. Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Parents Regarding Ophthalmological Screening of Preschool-Aged Children in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. Clin. Pract. 2024, 14, 2522-2532. https://doi.org/10.3390/clinpract14060198
Mahfouz MS, Mahmoud SS, Haroobi SQ, Bahkali LM, Numan SI, Taheri AM, Hakami OA, Zunquti OA, Khered SM. Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Parents Regarding Ophthalmological Screening of Preschool-Aged Children in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. Clinics and Practice. 2024; 14(6):2522-2532. https://doi.org/10.3390/clinpract14060198
Chicago/Turabian StyleMahfouz, Mohamed Salih, Samy Shaban Mahmoud, Saleha Qaseem Haroobi, Latifah Mohammed Bahkali, Shahad Ibrahim Numan, Areen Mohsen Taheri, Ohoud Ali Hakami, Orjuwan Adel Zunquti, and Sarah Mohammed Khered. 2024. "Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Parents Regarding Ophthalmological Screening of Preschool-Aged Children in Jazan, Saudi Arabia" Clinics and Practice 14, no. 6: 2522-2532. https://doi.org/10.3390/clinpract14060198
APA StyleMahfouz, M. S., Mahmoud, S. S., Haroobi, S. Q., Bahkali, L. M., Numan, S. I., Taheri, A. M., Hakami, O. A., Zunquti, O. A., & Khered, S. M. (2024). Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Parents Regarding Ophthalmological Screening of Preschool-Aged Children in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. Clinics and Practice, 14(6), 2522-2532. https://doi.org/10.3390/clinpract14060198