Research
Prevalence of Refractive Errors Among Junior High School Students in the Ejisu Juaben Municipality of Ghana
Among school children, uncorrected refractive errors have a considerable impact on their participation and learning in class.
The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of refractive error among students in the Ejisu-Juabeng Municipality of Ghana.
504 students aged 12-17 years were examined for refractive errors.
The overall prevalence rate of refractive errors was 7.5%. Out of the number of children with refractive errors, 39.5% had astigmatism, 31.6% had hyperopia and 28.9% had myopia.
The prevalence rate was significantly higher among urban compared with rural students.
The study concluded that near work, sex and high parental education level are factors contributing to refractive errors.
Children in urban areas are at higher risk compared with their rural counterparts.
The study suggests that an efficient pre-school vision examination must be made part of the admission policy of all schools in Ghana.