Vision-related quality of life and associated factors in individuals with vision impairment

African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine

 
 
Field Value
 
Title Vision-related quality of life and associated factors in individuals with vision impairment
 
Creator Leshabane, Modjadji M. Rampersad, Nishanee Mashige, Khathutshelo P.
 
Subject College of Health Sciences; Optometry vision impairment; quality of life; vision-related quality of life; National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire-39; comprehensive eye care services.
Description Background: Vision impairment (VI) limits the ability of affected individuals to achieve optimal functioning and impacts their quality of life.Aim: This study assesses the vision-related quality of life (VRQOL) and its associated factors in individuals with VI.Setting: The study was conducted at selected public hospitals in Limpopo province, South Africa.Methods: A cross-sectional, quantitative study was conducted between January and August 2023 across 29 public hospitals, utilising a semi-structured questionnaire. Data obtained from the participants’ responses were analysed to assess their VRQOL.Results: The study sample consisted of 454 participants, 57.0% female. The participants’ ages ranged from 18 to 82 years. The mean composite score was 22.50 ±13.01 (range: 4.0–55.7). Factors associated with increased risk of poorer VRQOL included illiteracy (B: –10.32; p  0.001), primary level education (B: –6.81; p = 0.015) and male gender (B: –3.80; p = 0.003). Regarding VI severity and aetiology, blindness (B: –21.35; p  0.001), cataracts (B: –2.98; p = 0.015) and corneal diseases (B: –6.85; p = 0.005) were associated with risk of poor VRQOL. Conversely, employment (B: 12.76; p  0.001) and refractive error (B: 11.84; p  0.001) were associated with improved VRQOL outcomes.Conclusion: The VRQOL among individuals with VI attending public hospitals in Limpopo province is relatively low. The main causes of VI were largely preventable or correctable, indicating the need to strengthen comprehensive eye care services. Enhancing these services may significantly improve the quality of life for individuals with VI in the province.Contribution: The study fills the knowledge gap regarding the impact of VI on VRQOL in individuals seeking care at public hospitals in Limpopo province.
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor University of KwaZulu Natal, College of Health Sciences
Date 2025-02-28
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — descriptive; cross-sectional; quantitative research
Format text/html application/epub+zip text/xml application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/phcfm.v17i1.4765
 
Source African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine; Vol 17, No 1 (2025); 9 pages 2071-2936 2071-2928
 
Language eng
 
Relation
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:

https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/4765/7953 https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/4765/7954 https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/4765/7955 https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/4765/7956
 
Coverage Africa, South Africa, Limpopo province January 2023-September 2023 18 years and older; All genders; All ethnic groups; Visually impaired
Rights Copyright (c) 2025 Modjadji M. Leshabane, Nishanee Rampersad, Khathutshelo P. Mashige https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
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