CHALLENGES FACED BY VISUALLY IMPAIRED LEARNERS AMONG PATIENTS ATTENDING EYE HEALTH CARE SERVICES AT JINJA REGIONAL REFERRAL HOSPITAL. A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

Abstract

Purpose of the study

To determine the challenges faced by visually impaired learners among patients attending eye care services at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital. 

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted at the eye clinic and data was collected using interviews, administered questionnaires, interpreted, and analyzed where 100 respondents were chosen for the study. 

Principal findings:

The study revealed that the majority of the participants in the study were females 54(54%) and males 46(46%). The study also revealed the majority of the participants were at the secondary level of education 38(38%), tertiary level 25(25%), primary level 23(23%), and the least at the University 14(14%). Negative attitude towards visually impaired learners was the main challenge 44(44%) followed by lack of resources 24(24%) and school timetable was the least challenge 07(7%).  

Conclusion:

According to the study, females posed a high number of participants, and negative attitude toward visually impaired learners was the main challenge faced by the participants. 

Recommendations:

The Ministry of Education and Sports should establish more special needs schools even in hard-to-reach areas and emphasize training more personnel who can handle the visually impaired learners to realize their maximum potential. The government should budget for resources needed by the learners. More assessment units for example; well-equipped health centers should be established in the communities because most of the communities don’t have the equipment and even personnel to manage appropriately the eye problems and most of the good hospitals are mostly located in urban centers which are not easily accessible by visually impaired due to distance and financial constraints.