Assessing Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Refractive Errors and Spectacle Wear among Children in Sana’a: A Cross-Sectional Study
Background: Understanding the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding refractive errors and spectacle use is essential for promoting eye health and effective vision correction, especially in children. Objective: This study assessed the demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Al-Ayen Iraqi University
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | AUIQ Complementary Biological System |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://acbs.alayen.edu.iq/journal/vol2/iss1/8/ |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849236194157658112 |
|---|---|
| author | Tariek Aldoais Zakarya Rageh Khaled Al-Hemyari Saleh Altheeb Abdulmogni Al-barrag Mahfouth Bamashmus |
| author_facet | Tariek Aldoais Zakarya Rageh Khaled Al-Hemyari Saleh Altheeb Abdulmogni Al-barrag Mahfouth Bamashmus |
| author_sort | Tariek Aldoais |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Understanding the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding refractive errors and spectacle use is essential for promoting eye health and effective vision correction, especially in children.
Objective: This study assessed the demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, and practices of participants concerning refractive errors and spectacle use, focusing on correlations influencing these factors.
Methods: A cross-sectional study of 228 participants analyzed demographic data, duration of glasses use, and responses to a structured questionnaire on KAP related to refractive errors and spectacles.
Results: Among participants, 53.1% were female, and 45.2% were aged 8–13 years. Glasses use for 1–3 years was reported by 46.1%. Most participants (91.2%) recognized the adverse effects of screen time on vision, and 83.3% valued regular eye check-ups. However, misconceptions existed, such as refractive errors being preventable by diet (43.0%). The overall knowledge was poor. Positive attitudes toward glasses were reported by 64.5%, although 81.6% sought alternatives. More than half (56.1%) rejected the notion that glasses cause bullying, and 51.8% disagreed that glasses negatively impact appearance. Adequate practices were observed in 52.6%, with 75.4% regularly visiting ophthalmologists and 81.6% recognizing the stabilizing effect of glasses on vision. However, 74.1% purchased glasses without a prescription. Knowledge positively correlated with attitudes (r = 0.179, p = 0.007) and practices (r = 0.215, p = 0.001). Participants using glasses for ≥3 years had significantly more positive attitudes (63.9%, p = 0.023) and adequate practices (77.0%, p < 0.001).
Conclusions: Despite moderate knowledge and practices, misconceptions about refractive errors persist, underscoring the need for educational interventions. Positive correlations between KAP suggest that enhancing knowledge can improve attitudes and practices, supporting effective spectacle use and better eye health management. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-512bb34a9c8d4e43aceb98ce5fd76f8b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 3007-973X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Al-Ayen Iraqi University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | AUIQ Complementary Biological System |
| spelling | doaj-art-512bb34a9c8d4e43aceb98ce5fd76f8b2025-08-20T04:02:26ZengAl-Ayen Iraqi UniversityAUIQ Complementary Biological System3007-973X2025-04-012110010910.70176/3007-973X.1027Assessing Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Refractive Errors and Spectacle Wear among Children in Sana’a: A Cross-Sectional StudyTariek Aldoais0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5573-7446Zakarya Rageh1Khaled Al-Hemyari2Saleh Altheeb3Abdulmogni Al-barrag4Mahfouth Bamashmus5Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Amran University, Yemen Eye Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Sana’a, YemenAL Kuwait university hospital, Sana’a, Yemene Eye Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, 21 September University, Sana’a, YemenDepartment of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana’a University, Sana’a, YemenDepartment of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana’a University, Sana’a, YemenBackground: Understanding the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding refractive errors and spectacle use is essential for promoting eye health and effective vision correction, especially in children. Objective: This study assessed the demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, and practices of participants concerning refractive errors and spectacle use, focusing on correlations influencing these factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 228 participants analyzed demographic data, duration of glasses use, and responses to a structured questionnaire on KAP related to refractive errors and spectacles. Results: Among participants, 53.1% were female, and 45.2% were aged 8–13 years. Glasses use for 1–3 years was reported by 46.1%. Most participants (91.2%) recognized the adverse effects of screen time on vision, and 83.3% valued regular eye check-ups. However, misconceptions existed, such as refractive errors being preventable by diet (43.0%). The overall knowledge was poor. Positive attitudes toward glasses were reported by 64.5%, although 81.6% sought alternatives. More than half (56.1%) rejected the notion that glasses cause bullying, and 51.8% disagreed that glasses negatively impact appearance. Adequate practices were observed in 52.6%, with 75.4% regularly visiting ophthalmologists and 81.6% recognizing the stabilizing effect of glasses on vision. However, 74.1% purchased glasses without a prescription. Knowledge positively correlated with attitudes (r = 0.179, p = 0.007) and practices (r = 0.215, p = 0.001). Participants using glasses for ≥3 years had significantly more positive attitudes (63.9%, p = 0.023) and adequate practices (77.0%, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Despite moderate knowledge and practices, misconceptions about refractive errors persist, underscoring the need for educational interventions. Positive correlations between KAP suggest that enhancing knowledge can improve attitudes and practices, supporting effective spectacle use and better eye health management.https://acbs.alayen.edu.iq/journal/vol2/iss1/8/refractive errorsspectacle useknowledgeattitudespractices |
| spellingShingle | Tariek Aldoais Zakarya Rageh Khaled Al-Hemyari Saleh Altheeb Abdulmogni Al-barrag Mahfouth Bamashmus Assessing Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Refractive Errors and Spectacle Wear among Children in Sana’a: A Cross-Sectional Study AUIQ Complementary Biological System refractive errors spectacle use knowledge attitudes practices |
| title | Assessing Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Refractive Errors and Spectacle Wear among Children in Sana’a: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full | Assessing Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Refractive Errors and Spectacle Wear among Children in Sana’a: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_fullStr | Assessing Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Refractive Errors and Spectacle Wear among Children in Sana’a: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Refractive Errors and Spectacle Wear among Children in Sana’a: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_short | Assessing Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Refractive Errors and Spectacle Wear among Children in Sana’a: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_sort | assessing knowledge attitudes and practices regarding refractive errors and spectacle wear among children in sana a a cross sectional study |
| topic | refractive errors spectacle use knowledge attitudes practices |
| url | https://acbs.alayen.edu.iq/journal/vol2/iss1/8/ |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tariekaldoais assessingknowledgeattitudesandpracticesregardingrefractiveerrorsandspectaclewearamongchildreninsanaaacrosssectionalstudy AT zakaryarageh assessingknowledgeattitudesandpracticesregardingrefractiveerrorsandspectaclewearamongchildreninsanaaacrosssectionalstudy AT khaledalhemyari assessingknowledgeattitudesandpracticesregardingrefractiveerrorsandspectaclewearamongchildreninsanaaacrosssectionalstudy AT salehaltheeb assessingknowledgeattitudesandpracticesregardingrefractiveerrorsandspectaclewearamongchildreninsanaaacrosssectionalstudy AT abdulmognialbarrag assessingknowledgeattitudesandpracticesregardingrefractiveerrorsandspectaclewearamongchildreninsanaaacrosssectionalstudy AT mahfouthbamashmus assessingknowledgeattitudesandpracticesregardingrefractiveerrorsandspectaclewearamongchildreninsanaaacrosssectionalstudy |