Epidemiological Patterns of Ocular Morbidity Among Under-Five Children in Khartoum State- Sudan 2020

Abstract BackgroundDevelopment of the visual system begins prenatally and continues after birth. Visual impairment in early childhood can significantly impair development of visual, motor, and cognitive functions and lead to adverse psychosocial consequences. This research objective is to study the epidemiological patterns of ocular morbidity among children aged less than five years old aiming to reveal information for prevention and control.MethodsThe study is a retrospective patient’s records study carried out in three tertiary eye care hospitals in Khartoum State- Sudan. Records of all children attended in 2019 amounting 10886were reviewed. The data had been summarized and analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0. The prevalence of under-five children was estimated in contrast to the overall population and as a proportion from the total children number. The patterns of ocular morbidity were identified according to type, age groups and gender. ResultsThe prevalence of under- five children with ocular morbidity was 5% and they represented 45% of the total children below 16 years. The predominant age group affected with ocular morbidity was (3-5 years old with 53%). Eye infections affected (19%), allergic eye diseases (16.8%), orbital diseases (12.4%), refractive errors (10.8%), squint (9.3%), corneal diseases (6.6%), cataract (6%), glaucoma (2.3%), neurogenic eye (2%) and tumors (0.23%).There were some variations in morbidities according to age groups and gender among the study participants.ConclusionsThe proportion of under-five children is high. The predominant ocular morbidity affecting children of this age is eye infections, followed by allergic eye diseases and refractive errors while other serious blinding eye diseases mounted a considerable percentage. Although of small percentage but worth mentioning that malignant eye tumors were one of the patterns of ocular morbidities affecting under-five children. Patterns of ocular morbidity showed some gender variations.