Barriers to Accessing Eye Care Services Among Marginalized Groups in Union Council Kili Shiekhan,Tehsil Chiltan, Quetta

Authors

  • Shahsawar Ali, Ayesha Saeed, Mehboob Ali, Muhammad Amir, Zabid Ali Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.71395/ijhp.1.2.2024.46-51

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Barriers like as cost and finance, communication, trust, fear, lack of knowledge and awareness, distance and transportation, race, service-related, problems with glass and optical devices, lack of time, previous experience etc determination of eye care services among marginalized group in Quetta. Barriers to Accessing Eye Care Services Among Marginalized Groups in Union Council Kili Shiekhan, Tehsil Chiltan, Quetta.
METHODOLOGY: After taking consent and recording demographic details, a questionnaire was used to assess barriers to eye care services on a 20 points questionnaire, in the community.
RESULTS: It has been shown in our finding that among total of 400 participants (289 males, 111 females), mean age 40 years, (38.5%) educated and (61.5%) illiterates. Major barriers are five, which are more expensive (65%) and (62.5%) affordability issues, there were (50.75%) communication gaps, (70%) have a fear of surgery,
(85.75%) have distance issues, transport facilities availability(51.75%) and (62%) don’t have knowledge and awareness of eye care services,(53.25%) have spectacle cosmetic trouble, (42.25%) comfortable with spectacle, (65.5%) have managing problem of spectacles, (25.25%) gender biases exists and (91.75%) have schedule feasibility
for visit hospitals, (36.25%) misbehaviour perception from hospitals staff and (62,25%) satisfied from hospitals staff and (77.5%) satisfied about treatment services, (62,25%) service availability and (76.5%) not felt racism.
CONCLUSION: This study aimed to highlight the barriers to accessing eye care services among marginalised groups. It is concluded from this research that most people have cost and finance issues regarding eye care services, there is a communication gap among them and fear of surgery is also found as an obstacle in accessing eye care facilities. Distance from hospitals and relatively low knowledge and awareness about facilities and services regarding eye care are playing a great role. Spectacles as cosmetic issues and management of spectacles are also found as barriers. On a minor scale race and gender favouritism hinder to access eye care services.

Author Biography

  • Shahsawar Ali, Ayesha Saeed, Mehboob Ali, Muhammad Amir, Zabid Ali

    Bachelor of Science Vision Sciences at the Isra University

    BS Optometry at The University of Faisalabad

References

Ricur G, Reyes J, Alfonso E, Marino RG. Surfing the COVID-19 tsunami with teleophthalmology: The advent of new models of eye care. Current

Ophthalmology Reports. 2023;11(1):1-12.

Tan TF, Li Y, Lim JS, Gunasekeran DV, Teo ZL, Ng WY, et al. Metaverse and virtual health care in ophthalmology: Opportunities and challenges.

Asia-Pacific Journal of Ophthalmology. 2022;11(3):237-46.

Hashemi G, Wickenden M, Bright T, Kuper H. Barriers to accessing primary healthcare services for people with disabilities in low and middle-income countries, a Meta-synthesis of qualitative studies. Disability and rehabilitation. 2022;44(8):1207-20.

Howard J, Fisher Z, Kemp AH, Lindsay S, Tasker LH, Tree JJ. Exploring the barriers to using assistive technology for individuals with chronic conditions: a meta-synthesis review. Disability and rehabilitation: Assistive technology. 2022;17(4):390-408.

Malik-Soni N, Shaker A, Luck H, Mullin AE, Wiley RE, Lewis M, et al. Tackling healthcare access barriers for individuals with autism from

diagnosis to adulthood. Pediatric Research. 2022;91(5):1028-35.

Sithole HL. Eye health promotion-oriented policy statements in various national and provincial health policy documents in South Africa. African

Vision and Eye Health. 2022;81(1):597-600.

Burton MJ, Ramke J, Marques AP, Bourne RR, Congdon N, Jones I, et al. The lancet global health commission on global eye health: vision beyond

The Lancet Global Health. 2021;9(4):48-51.

Khan SM, Liu X, Nath S, Korot E, Faes L, Wagner SK, et al. A global review of publicly available datasets for ophthalmological imaging: barriers to access, usability, and generalisability. The Lancet Digital Health. 2021;3(1):51-66.

Toro MD, Brezin AP, Burdon M, Cummings AB, Evren Kemer O, Malyugin BE, et al. Early impact of COVID-19 outbreak on eye care: insights from EUROCOVCAT group. SAGE Publications Sage

UK: London, England; 2021. p. 5-9.

Shaw J, Brewer LC, Veinot T. Recommendations for health equity and virtual care arising from the COVID-19 pandemic: narrative review. JMIR

Formative Research. 2021;5(4):23-25.

Gunasekeran DV, Tham Y-C, Ting DS, Tan GS, Wong TY. Digital health during COVID-19: lessons from operationalising new models of care

in ophthalmology. The Lancet Digital Health. 2021;3(2):124-34.

Ipp E, Liljenquist D, Bode B, Shah VN, Silverstein S, Regillo CD, et al. Pivotal evaluation of an artificial intelligence system for autonomous detection of referrable and vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy. JAMA network open. 2021;4(11): 21-24.

Avidor D, Loewenstein A, Waisbourd M, Nutman A. Cost-effectiveness of diabetic retinopathy screening programs using telemedicine: a systematic review. Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation.

;18:1-9.

Brookfield S, Dean J, Forrest C, Jones J, Fitzgerald L. Barriers to accessing sexual health services for transgender and male sex workers: a systematic qualitative meta-summary. AIDS and Behavior. 2020;24(3):682-96.

Savoy M. IDx-DR for diabetic retinopathy screening. American family physician. 2020;101(5):307-8.

Butkus R, Rapp K, Cooney TG, Engel LS, Health, Physicians* PPCotACo. Envisioning a better US health care system for all: reducing barriers to care and addressing social determinants of health. Annals of internal medicine. 2020;172(2_Supplement): 50-9.

Sadhu S, Agrawal R, Pyare R, Pavesio C, Zierhut M, Khatri A, et al. COVID-19: limiting the risks for eye care professionals. Ocular immunology and inflammation. 2020;28(5):714-20.

Pierszalowski S, Bouwma-Gearhart J, Marlow L. A systematic review of barriers to accessing undergraduate research for STEM students: problematizing under-researched factors for students of color. Social Sciences. 2021;10(9):328-330.

Ahmad K, Zwi AB, Tarantola DJ, Azam SI. Self-perceived barriers to eye care in a hard-to-reach population. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2015;56(2):1021-1027. doi:10.1167/iovs. 14-15.

Khan A, Khan MD, Khan MY, Khan MN. The challenge of equitable eye care in Pakistan. Community Eye Health. 2011;24(75):24-25

Downloads

Published

2024-06-30

Issue

Section

Original Article

How to Cite

Barriers to Accessing Eye Care Services Among Marginalized Groups in Union Council Kili Shiekhan,Tehsil Chiltan, Quetta. (2024). International Journal of Healthcare Professions, 1(2). https://doi.org/10.71395/ijhp.1.2.2024.46-51