Today, with increasing level of education and living standard, the prevalence & severity of myopia appear to be an upward trend. Although the mechanisms of development and progression of myopia remain uncertain, environmental factors such as a higher level of education, more near-work, and lesser outdoor activities, could be associated with myopia. This study sought to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of myopia among KNUST students in Kumasi- Ghana.
In this cross-sectional study, 307 Students of KNUST aged between 17 and 35 years were randomly recruited. Information on near work, indoor and outdoor activities and well as sleep duration and habits and use of visual aids was obtained using myopia risk factor questionnaire. Non-cycloplegic refraction was performed using autorefraction technique. Myopia was defined as spherical equivalent refraction (SER) ≤-0.50 D. Data were analyzed for 307 (male: 155 and female: 152) students with full relevant data.
Table of Contents
1 CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT
1.3 JUSTIFICATION
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1.5 PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVE
1.6 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
2 CHAPTER TWO: METHODOLOGY
2.1 STUDY AREA
2.2 STUDY DESIGN
2.3 STUDY POPULATION
2.4 SAMPLE SIZE
2.5 SAMPLING TECHNIQUE
2.6 DATA COLLECTION TOOL
2.6.1 VALIDITY
2.6.2 RELIABILTY
2.7 INCLUSION CRITERIA
2.8 EXCLUSION CRITERIA
2.9 DATA COLLECTION METHOD
2.10 DATA ANALYSIS AND STATISTICAL METHOD
2.11 WORK PLAN
2.12 BUDGET
2.13 ETHICAL CONSIDERATION
3 CHAPTER THREE: RESULTS
3.1 Objective 1: Prevalence and distribution patterns of myopia among students in KNUST.
3.2 Objective 2: Extent of engagement in near work activities
3.3 Objective 3: Extent of engagement in indoor and outdoor activities
3.4 Objective 4: Use of visual aids by students
4 CHAPTER FOUR: DISCUSSION
5 CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 CONCLUSION
5.2 STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS
5.3 RECOMMENDATIONS
6 REFERENCES
7 Appendix
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary aim of this research is to investigate the prevalence and distribution patterns of myopia among students at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), while simultaneously assessing the extent of their exposure to various environmental and behavioral risk factors.
- Prevalence and demographic distribution of myopia among university students.
- Analysis of near-work activities (e.g., smartphone usage, reading, writing) and their correlation with refractive status.
- Evaluation of indoor and outdoor physical activity habits as environmental risk factors.
- Assessment of the usage patterns and perceived necessity of visual aids among the student population.
Excerpt from the Book
1.1 BACKGROUND
Myopia, commonly termed ‘short-sightedness’ or ‘near-sightedness’ is the most common refractive error in the world affecting 22.9% of the worldwide population. It is projected to increase by 117% by 2050 affecting 4.8 billion people globally (Holden et al., 2016, Chua and Wong, 2016) with about 163 million people estimated to have developed high myopia within this time (Holden et al., 2016, Rudnicka et al., 2016, Bourne et al., 2013). The visual ergonomic burden of uncorrected refractive error is estimated to be a loss of $202 billion of worldwide gross domestic product (Fricke et al., 2012). The expected increase of myopia globally is marked by a reduction in the age of onset, rate of progression and an increase in myopia severity at stabilization. The significant risk factors associated with the development and progression of myopia have been studied in different populations and its associated risks of severe and irreversible loss of vision such as glaucoma, retinal detachment, subretinal neovascularization, maculopathy and cataract have been documented (Smith et al., 2015, Ikuno, 2017).
Studies have reported a significant variation in prevalence of myopia among people of different ethnic backgrounds, locations, and ages (Hammond et al., 2001). East and Southeast Asia have experienced a significant rise in myopia in recent decades with greater than 80% of the younger generation now affected (Pan et al., 2015). The prevalence of myopia among Indonesians (Saw et al., 2002a), United States of America (Vitale et al., 2008) and Norway (Midelfart et al., 2002) has been estimated to be 48.1%, 33.1% 35.0% respectively for a definition of spherical equivalence (SE) measure of less than -0.50D. A study by Xu et al. (2005) in mainland China showed that the prevalence of myopia for SE of < -0.50D, <-1.0D, <-6.0D and <-8.0D are 22.9%, 16.9% and 2.6%
Summary of Chapters
1 CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION: Provides the global context of myopia, states the problem of increasing prevalence in young adults, and defines the specific research objectives for KNUST students.
2 CHAPTER TWO: METHODOLOGY: Describes the cross-sectional study design, sampling techniques, and data collection procedures, including the use of semi-structured questionnaires and non-cycloplegic autorefraction.
3 CHAPTER THREE: RESULTS: Presents the statistical findings regarding the 30% myopia prevalence, demographic distributions, and the correlation between specific factors like smartphone usage and outdoor activity.
4 CHAPTER FOUR: DISCUSSION: Compares the local study results with international literature, exploring why certain factors like smartphone time show significant associations while others do not.
5 CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: Summarizes key findings indicating myopia as a public health concern among university students and suggests advocacy and behavioral lifestyle changes.
Keywords
Myopia, Short-sightedness, Refractive error, KNUST, University students, Smartphone usage, Near-work, Outdoor activities, Public health, Prevalence, Risk factors, Autorefraction, Spherical equivalent, Ghana, Visual ergonomics
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research study?
The research focuses on determining the prevalence of myopia among students at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and identifying potential environmental and lifestyle risk factors.
What are the primary themes investigated in this work?
The study examines the relationship between myopia and various activities, including near-work (reading, writing, smartphone use) and outdoor physical engagement, alongside descriptive demographic analysis.
What is the main objective or research question?
The primary objective is to quantify the prevalence and distribution patterns of myopia among KNUST students and to assess their exposure to associated risk factors.
Which scientific methodology was employed?
The study utilized a cross-sectional research design involving a sample of 307 students, employing printed semi-structured questionnaires and objective non-cycloplegic autorefraction techniques.
What topics are covered in the main body of the work?
The main body covers the introduction and background of global myopia trends, systematic methodology for data collection, a detailed presentation of results regarding activity engagement, and a discussion on these findings compared to global standards.
Which keywords best describe this study?
Key terms include Myopia, Refractive Error, University Students, Smartphone Usage, Near-work, Outdoor Activities, and Public Health.
Did the study find any significant correlation with smartphone usage?
Yes, the study identified a statistically significant correlation (P<0.05) between the time spent using smartphones and the presence of myopia.
How did outdoor activity levels differ between myopic and non-myopic students?
The results demonstrated that myopic students engaged in significantly less outdoor activity compared to their non-myopic peers.
Are there gender-based differences in myopia prevalence in this study?
The findings indicated a higher prevalence of myopia in female students (54.3%) compared to male students (45.7%).
- Arbeit zitieren
- Samuel Sesah (Autor:in), 2023, Myopia among Adults. Prevalence and Risk Factors, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1322875
