Determinants of Eye Health Services Utilization (DESU)

Date of Completion: December 2022

Funder: Himalayan Cataract Project (HCP)

Aim: Identify factors that determine eye health care service utilisation in people identified with vision impairment in a Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) survey.

Background

Around 80% of the causes of vision impairment in Ethiopia are either preventable or curable. These issues need to be addressed by establishing acceptable, accessible, and affordable comprehensive eye care services. However, there is a scarcity of population-based data on the eye care needs and determinants of eye health service utilisation among visually impaired populations. This study was nested within RAAB survey which was conducted in West Gojam Zone and Bahirdar City Administration.

Key Findings

• Only 17.5 % of community members had at least one eye care visit in the last one year

• Eye care seeking behavior was influenced by positive attitude toward eye care costs, vision impairment severity, general health seeking behavior, educational level, and awareness.

• The average amount that people with vision impairment were willing to pay for eye cares services was US$19.5, (IQR: $54.5).

• Annual income and believing that the visual problem will be treated were determinants of willingness to pay for eye care services.

• Visually impaired peoples were found significantly poorer than their counterparts.