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, population-based data on the eye care needs, and determinants of eye health service utilisation among visually impaired populations are inadequate. This study was nested within the RAAB survey which was conducted in West Gojam Zone and Bahirdar City Administrations.


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 their attitude toward eye care costs, vision impairment status, general health seeking behavior, educational level, and awareness.

The average amount that people with vision impairment were willing 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.

People with visual impairment were significantly poorer than their counterparts.