Evaluating cataract surgery numbers and constraints to the delivery of optimal cataract services in Kebbi state, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Despite cataract being the commonest cause of blindness globally the surgical services to tackle the scourge remain sub-optimal in the sub-Saharan Africa. Regular appraisal of cataract services is necessary to meet WHO Vision 2020 Cataract Surgical Rate (CSR) target for the African sub-region.
Aim: To evaluate the cataract surgery numbers and constraints to the delivery of optimal cataract services in Kebbi, Nigeria.
Methods: A descriptive and analytic cross-sectional study involving all the hospitals offering cataract surgical services in Kebbi using quantitative questionnaire to obtain a four-year-period(2012-15) information among others number of cataract surgeries performed and constraints in the delivery of cataract services.
Results: Cataract Surgical Rate was highest in 2015 with 567.The state hospital with lesser yearly budget performed more surgeries in the reviewed four-year-period compared to the tertiary hospital. The major barriers to the demand for cataract services were poverty, distance to eye clinic, fear of surgery, lack of awareness, cultural belief, ignorance, cost of surgery, long waiting hours and the elongated list of patient awaiting surgery.
Conclusion: Cataract Surgical Rate still remains low in Kebbi, and below WHO recommended minimal target for Africa. State hospital is the major contributor to the output in cataract service. The causation of the low demand for cataract services includes among others long waiting list at the state hospital, high cost of surgery at the tertiary and private hospitals. The need for all stakeholders in eye care in Kebbi to work together for improvement of the service delivery is underscored.