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Prevalence of ocular trauma in 6-12-year-old children living in Shahroud, Iran
Hassan Hashemi1, Reza Pakzad2, Mehdi Khabazkhoob3
1Noor Research Center for Ophthalmic Epidemiology, Noor Eye Hospital, Tehran, Iran.
Insights
Ocular trauma affects 5.2% of Iranian children aged 6-12 years, with blunt injuries being most common. Boys, older children, and those in rural areas face higher risks, necessitating targeted safety education.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Ophthalmology
- Public Health
Background:
- Ocular trauma is a significant cause of visual impairment in children.
- Understanding the prevalence and risk factors is crucial for developing preventive strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of ocular trauma in Iranian children aged 6-12 years.
- To identify associated risk factors for ocular injury in this population.
Main Methods:
- A population-based cross-sectional study involving 5267 primary school children.
- Data collected via questionnaires on trauma history, hospitalization, and surgery.
- Ocular health assessed through visual acuity and refraction measurements.
Main Results:
- The lifetime prevalence of ocular trauma was 5.2% (95% CI: 4.6-5.9).
- Blunt trauma was the most frequent type (66.2%).
- Risk factors included male sex (OR: 1.62), older age (OR: 1.17), and rural residence (OR: 1.49).
- 9.3% of injuries required hospitalization and 4.7% needed surgery.
Conclusions:
- Ocular trauma prevalence in Iranian children is notable, with higher rates in boys, older children, and rural residents.
- Lifestyle, outdoor exposure, and hazardous situations may contribute to these disparities.
- Educational programs and safety interventions are recommended to reduce ocular injuries.
Aim:
To determine the prevalence of ocular trauma in Iranian children aged 6-12 years.
Methods:
This population-based cross-sectional study, comprised the first phase of the Shahroud Schoolchildren Eye Cohort Study on primary school children using cluster sampling in urban areas and census in rural areas. The students underwent the measurement of uncorrected and corrected visual acuity as well as non-cycloplegic, cycloplegic, and subjective refraction. The history of trauma, hospitalization, and surgery due to trauma was collected from parents using a questionnaire.
Results:
The data of the trauma history was recorded for 5267 out of 5620 students. The mean age of the students was 9.7 ± 1.7 years (range: 6-12 years), 53.7% of them were boys, and 79.3% were from urban areas. A positive history of ocular trauma was found in 285 participants, and the lifetime prevalence of ocular injury (95% CI) was 5.2% (4.6-5.9). Blunt trauma was the most common ocular injury with a prevalence of 66.2%. There was a significant positive assocation between ocular trauma and living in rural areas (OR: 1.49, p: 0.012), older age (OR: 1.17, p < 0.001), and male sex (OR: 1.62, p: 0.002). Furthermore, 9.3% and 4.7% of the traumas required hospitalization and surgical intervention, respectively.
Conclusion:
This study found a marked prevalence of ocular trauma compared to previous studies. Male sex, older age, and living in rural areas were associated with ocular trauma, which could be due to differences in lifestyle preference, outdoor exposure, and dangerous situations. Educational programs and safety instructions should be encouraged.
