Journal article

A two-site, population-based study of barriers to cataract surgery in rural China

Q Yin, A Hu, Y Liang, J Zhang, M He, DSC Lam, J Ge, N Wang, DS Friedman, J Zhao, N Congdon

Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science | ASSOC RESEARCH VISION OPHTHALMOLOGY INC | Published : 2009

Abstract

PURPOSE. China has among the lowest cataract surgical rates in Asia. This study was conducted to identify barriers to cataract surgery in rural China. METHODS. All subjects having undergone cataract surgery and persons with presenting visual acuity ≤6/60 (in Yangjiang) or ≤6/18 (in Handan) in ≥1 eye due to nonsurgically treated cataract were identified in two population-based studies in southern (Yangjiang) and northern (Handan) China. The subjects were administered a questionnaire assessing attitudes in four areas constituting potential barriers to surgery: knowledge about cataract, perceptions of local surgical quality, transportation and cost, and available resources. RESULTS. Interviews ..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Grants

Awarded by Ministry of Science and Technology


Funding Acknowledgements

The Handan Eye Study was supported by the Program of Health Policy for Blindness Prevention from the People's Republic of China and the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program; No. 2007CB512201) from the Ministry of Science and Technology. The Yangjiang Eye Study was supported by funds from the Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of China, the World Health Organization, and the Lions' Club.