Economic Burden of Visual Impairment and Blindness Among Adult Eye Patients Visiting PCEA Kikuyu Hospital in Kiambu County, Kenya

Abstract

Introduction: Illness is a significant burden on society since it has negative consequences for people's physical, emotional, and social well-being, as well as the nation's economic progress. Visual impairment is one of the most feared disabilities that a person might have around the world. Visual impairment and blindness have a wide-ranging, long-term, and substantial health and economic impact. Unfortunately, unlike in developed countries where studies on the economic burden of low vision and blindness exist, there is scarcity of such studies in African countries. Although several studies investigating the economic burden of disease have been carried out in Kenya, there is hardly any study on the economic burden of visual impairment and blindness. This study was therefore aimed at bridging this gap. Objectives: The specific objectives of the study were to determine the prevalence of blindness among adult eye patients visiting PCEA Kikuyu hospital eye unit, to examine the risk factors associated with visual impairment and blindness among adult eye patients visiting PCEA Kikuyu hospital Eye Unit and to estimate the economic burden of visual impairment and blindness among adult eye patients visiting PCEA Kikuyu hospital Eye Unit. Methodology: Using a structured questionnaire, 385 VI&B respondents visiting P.C.E.A Kikuyu Hospital were included in the study. The study used a Generalized Linear Model regression to determine the risk factors associated with visual impairment and blindness among adult eye patients in PCEA Kikuyu hospital Eye Unit. Results: Majority of the respondents who had visual impairment and blindness were aged between 41 to 50 years of age. Majority (66%) of the respondents were female as compared to 33% who were male. The results further indicated that respondents spent a minimum of Kshs 4,053 and a maximum of Kshs 20,496 to pay for medicines. Notably, the cost of treatment ranged from Kshs 10,014 to Kshs 49,922. The cost of buying spectacles ranged from Kshs 1,467 to Kshs 11,249 while the cost of eye surgery ranged from Kshs 20,322 and Kshs49,842. Regressions results indicated that age (31-40) (𝛽1= −6,537.19,𝑝=0.0337;𝑝<0.05), gender (female) (𝛽2= −4,183.50,𝑝=0.0451;𝑝<0.05), education (college) (𝛽3= 6,694.02,𝑝=0.0493;𝑝<0.05) were statistically significant indicating that they were significant predictors of the model. Conclusion: It is advised that a more thorough examination of financial assistance for families caring for VI&B people be carried out in order to ensure the affected people's long-term health and, as a result to boost the economic development of productive individuals and households. Recommendation: There is need for long-term investment in surveillance and subsidizing the services given the high economic burden, Majority of the households earn an income of between Kshs 10,001 - 20,000. The government should subsidize and device effective use of NHIF for compensating providers of the service to ensure that all family income is not channeled towards buying medicine and providing care for the VI&B persons.