Do gender inequities exist in cataract surgical coverage? Meta-analysis in Latin America

To determine if gender inequities exist in Latin America in regard to cataract surgery.

Meta-analysis.

Total of 38,992 subjects participating in epidemiological surveys; summary measures were used (not patient-level data).

A literature search and knowledge of rapid assessment of cataract surgical services/rapid assessment of avoidable blindness studies carried out in Latin America found 11 studies with complete cataract surgical coverage (CSC) data. Using summary original study data, a meta-analysis (random effects model) was conducted to analyse the differences in CSC between males and females. Results were adjusted for design effect.

Odds ratio (OR) of receiving cataract surgery comparing women with men.

CSC with a visual acuity (VA) <3/60 on an eye basis showed a non-statistically significant OR of 1.01 (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.86-1.18) for women receiving cataract surgery in comparison with men. For VA < 6/18, a non-statistically significant OR of 0.94 (95% CI: 0.83-1.07) was obtained for women receiving cataract surgery. On a person basis at a VA of <3/60 and <6/18, non-statistically significant ORs of 1.12 (95% CI: 0.78-1.63) and 0.94 (95% CI: 0.77-1.15) were obtained for women receiving cataract surgery, respectively. Statistical heterogeneity was 0% (I(2) statistic), except for results at a VA of <3/60 on a person basis (I(2) = 30%).

In the Latin American countries in which CSC was assessed, gender does not appear to be a significant factor in receiving cataract surgery. However, more data are required to confirm these results.