Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 30, 2025
Using an Automated Hirschberg Test App to Evaluate Ocular Alignment
Published on: March 24, 2020
Assessment of parental awareness about pediatric visual problems by Knowledge-Attitude-Practice survey in South India
Neelam Pawar1, Meenakshi Ravindran, Allapitchai Fathima
1Pediatric Ophthalmology and Squint Services, Aravind Eye Hospital and Post Graduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India.
Insights
Parental knowledge of pediatric eye problems is poor, but their attitude towards treatment is positive. Education and occupation significantly influence parental knowledge and attitude towards children's eye health.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Eye Care
- Public Health
Background:
- Pediatric eye conditions require early detection and management.
- Parental awareness and practices are crucial for effective pediatric eye care.
- Understanding parental knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) is essential for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess parental knowledge, attitude, and treatment practices (KAP) regarding pediatric eye problems.
- To evaluate the influence of demographic factors on parental KAP towards pediatric eye conditions.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional descriptive study involving 200 parents was conducted.
- A 15-question survey assessed parental KAP regarding pediatric eye diseases.
- Parents were recruited from a tertiary eye hospital, with children participating in the SPECSSS study.
Main Results:
- Only 9% of parents demonstrated good knowledge of visual problems.
- Parental attitude towards visual problems was positive in 17% of cases.
- Excellent or good practices were reported by 73% of parents.
- Knowledge and practice levels were not significantly associated with demographic factors (p > 0.05).
- Positive attitudes were linked to parental education and father's occupation (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- Parental knowledge regarding pediatric eye diseases is generally poor.
- Parental education and occupation significantly impact knowledge and attitude towards pediatric eye health.
- Parents exhibit a positive attitude towards improving treatment for their children's eye conditions.
Purpose:
To find out parents' knowledge, attitude, and treatment practice (KAP) toward pediatric eye problems and to assess the effect of demographic factors such as gender, age, educational status, and number of children on KAP.
Methods:
A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in a hospital setting. Two hundred parents were randomly selected for the questionnaire. All parents had children who were included in Systematic Pediatric Eye Care Through Sibling Screening Strategies (SPECSSS) study. A survey with 15 questions on KAP of pediatric eye diseases was prepared and administered to parents coming to a tertiary eye hospital with varied experience and education qualifications.
Results:
The mean age of 200 patients was 9.6 (3.4) years, with the majority of them male (n = 110; 55.0%). The majority of the children (n = 91, 45.5%) were between the age group of 6-10 years. Knowledge of visual problems among parents was of a good grade in 9% only. The attitude of the parents toward the visual problem was positive at 17%, and the responses regarding the practice were of excellent grade at 46.5% and good at 26.5%. Analysis suggests that the level of knowledge and practice were not significantly associated with the demographic factors (p > 0.05). The positive attitude toward the visual problems of the children was associated with education of the parents (p < 0.05) and the father occupation (p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
Knowledge about pediatric eye diseases was poor among parents and it was significantly affected by education and occupation of parents. The parents have positive attitude toward enhancing their attitude in treatment.
