Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34411104›Full record

ArticlePloS one2021

Visual impairment and its associated factors among medical and health sciences students at the University of Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia.

Mihret Getnet, Yonas Akalu, Baye Dagnew, Yibeltal Yismaw Gela, Yitayeh Belsti, Mengistie Diress, Sofonias Addis Fekadu, Mohammed Abdu Seid

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
1.5field-weighted citation impact, top 17% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 13 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Mihret GetnetDepartment of Human Physiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.ORCID 0000-0001-7553-1429
Yonas AkaluDepartment of Human Physiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Baye DagnewDepartment of Human Physiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Yibeltal Yismaw GelaDepartment of Human Physiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Yitayeh BelstiDepartment of Human Physiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Mengistie DiressDepartment of Human Physiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.ORCID 0000-0003-4186-4991
Sofonias Addis FekaduDepartment of Optometry, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Mohammed Abdu SeidDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Human Physiology, College of Health Science, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
University of Gondar · ETDebre Tabor University · ET

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundVisual impairment (VI) is a decreased ability to see things which is critical problem for health professionals and students to whom normal vision is essential for their daily activity. If it is not timely managed, visual impairment leads to physical, psychological, and socio-economic malfunctions to the victims and nation. Despite the above impacts, currently there is no study in Ethiopia on this topic. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of visual impairment and its associated factors among Medical and Health Science students at the University of Gondar.

methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March 2020 among Medical and Health Science students. After recruiting study participants using systematic random sampling technique, we applied pre-tested self-administered questionnaire for sociodemographic variables and also visual acuity measurement was performed using Snellen chart placed at a distance of 6 meters. Visual acuity tested separately for each eye and for both eyes in a well- illuminated area. Pinhole was used for those participants with a visual acuity of < 6/9. Participants with a presenting visual acuity of < 6/12 in the better eye were diagnosed as having visual impairment. Epi data version 3.1 and stata version 14 were used for data entry and statistical analysis, respectively. Binary logistic regression was used, and the Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with the 95% Confidence Interval (CI) was reported to declare the statistical significance and strength of association between VI and independent variables.

resultsA total of 654 students were screened for visual acuity. The prevalence of visual impairment was 12.5% (95% CI: 10.21, 15.31). Age above 25 years (AOR = 1.8; 95% CI: 1.02, 3.26) and current alcohol drinking (AOR = 2.9; 95% CI: 1.7, 5.00), were statistically significant factors of visual impairment.

conclusionThe prevalence of visual impairment among medical and health science students was high. Age of study participant and current alcohol consumption were statically significant factors. This study warrants the routine screening of Medical and Health science students for visual impairment.

Indexed as

AdultAlcohol DrinkingCross-Sectional StudiesEthiopiaHumansLogistic ModelsMalePrevalenceRisk FactorsSelf ReportStudents, MedicalStudents, Public HealthUniversitiesVision DisordersVisual AcuityYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID34411104
PMCPMC8376000
OpenAlexW3193316389

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.