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Cross-sectionalInternational journal of environmental research and public health · 2026

Visual Difficulties and Uptake of Optical Correction Among Malawians: Insights from the 2024 Demographic and Health Survey.

Joan Efua Edua Hanson, Selassie Tagoh, Ernest Korang Asamoah … Michael Agyemang Kwarteng

OphthalmologyCross-sectional

Only 6.4% of surveyed Malawians used glasses or contact lenses despite widespread visual difficulty.

Visual Difficulties and Uptake of Optical Correction Among Malawians: Insights from the 2024 Demographic and Health Survey.

Joan Efua Edua Hanson … Michael Agyemang Kwarteng

International journal of environmental research and public health · 2026

Background

Uncorrected visual impairment, primarily due to refractive errors, is a persistent public health concern in low- and middle-income countries.

Purpose

This study examines the prevalence of self-reported visual difficulties, the uptake of refractive correction, and the sociodemographic determinants of optical correction in Malawi using 2024 national survey data.

Methods

We conducted a secondary analysis of data from the 2024 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey (Malawi Demographic and Health Survey), a nationally representative, cross-sectional survey encompassing 23,095 participants across urban and rural regions.

n = 23,095 participants

6.4%

Results

6.4%

Spectacle or contact lens use was very low overall, leaving most visual difficulty uncorrected.

n = 23,095 participants

More results

Among 23,095 participants, visual difficulty was significantly associated with age, education, marital status, region, and residence (all p < 0.001).

The prevalence of visual difficulty increased markedly with age, from 2.3% in the youngest group to 15.5% in those over 74 years.

More results

Women, individuals with lower education, widowed participants, and residents of the Northern region experienced higher rates of visual difficulty.

Most individuals reporting visual difficulty were not using optical correction, including 70% of those with "some difficulty" and 67% of those with "a lot of difficulty" indicating substantial unmet need.

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Conclusion · 1 of 2

The unmet need for refractive correction in Malawi is substantial, disproportionately affecting older, less educated, rural, and widowed individuals.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

Expanding access to affordable and equitable refractive services is essential to reducing avoidable visual impairment and addressing social and geographic health disparities.

Post

Visual Difficulties and Uptake of Optical Correction Among Malawians: Insights from the 2024 Demographic and Health Survey.

Only 6.4% of surveyed Malawians used glasses or contact lenses despite widespread visual difficulty.

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