Gender and Eye Care Services Utilization in Awka, Anambra State, South-East, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Gender issues and inequalities in eye care service utilization are global concerns. Everyone has a right to sight and access to appropriate eye care.
Objectives:
• To identify any gender inequality in the utilization of eye care services in Awka, Anambra State, South-East Nigeria.
• To furnish facts for Strategic corrective measures for gender inequality in the utilization of eye care services.
Methods: This is a retrospective hospital-based study of all new patients seen in the outpatient Eye clinic department of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Awka, within a 5-year period. From the Eye clinic, data on the age and gender of patients were obtained. Results were analysed using a statistical package for social sciences version 20 and presented in tables and charts.
Results: Within the 5-year period, a total of 8123 patients utilized the eye care services. Out of these, 3307 (40.7%) were males, while 4816 (59.3%) were females with a male-female ratio of 1:1.5, respectively. There was female preponderance in all ages except in the ≤ 10 years and ≥ 91 years, where males were more. There was a statistically significant association between the age of the patient and the number of clinic attendance (P =0.000). Younger patients aged ≤ 40 years attended the eye clinic more than the older ones who are > 40 years old, with the age group of 21-30 years being the highest in attendance.
Conclusion: Our study shows gender inequality, with more females than males utilizing the eye care facility. There is a need to:
• Define potential barriers to utilization of eye care services by especially adult males but also their female counterparts over 40 years of age in the environment.
• Develop strategies to promote gender equity in the utilization of the available eye care services.