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Cross-sectionalFrontiers in ophthalmology · 2026

Prevalence of visual impairment and associated risk factors: a cross-sectional community-based study among children and adolescents in Ghana.

Josephine Ampomah Boateng, Werner Eisenbarth, Sylvester Kyeremeh … Kwadwo Owusu Akuffo

OphthalmologyCross-sectional

About 6% of Ghanaian children had impaired distance vision.

Prevalence of visual impairment and associated risk factors: a cross-sectional community-based study among children and adolescents in Ghana.

Josephine Ampomah Boateng … Kwadwo Owusu Akuffo

Frontiers in ophthalmology · 2026

Background

Contrary to hospital-based estimates of visual impairment, which are influenced by care-seeking behavior and clinical referral patterns, community-based studies provide a more accurate reflection of the true population burden.

Purpose

Contrary to hospital-based estimates of visual impairment, which are influenced by care-seeking behavior and clinical referral patterns, community-based studies provide a more accurate reflection of the true population burden.

Methods

A total of 622 participants, all aged 0-20 years, 332 of whom were females, underwent comprehensive ocular examinations, including age-appropriate visual acuity assessment, refraction, anterior segment and fundus evaluations.

n = 622 participants

Results

distance vision was too blurry to meet a normal screening threshold

AOR by subgroup · 95% CI

More results

These participants ranged from 3 months to 20 years (mean ± SD: 8.88 ± 4.11 years), comprising 53.6% females.

In the multivariable analysis, age (AOR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.57-0.82, p < 0.001) and ethnicity (AOR = 0.10, 95% CI: 0.03-0.37, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with lower odds of distance visual impairment.

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Conclusion · 1 of 4

Childhood visual impairment remains relatively high in this community-based population in Ghana.

Conclusion · 2 of 4

Age and ethnicity were significant determinants of distance visual impairment, highlighting important demographic influences on visual health among children and adolescents.

Conclusion · 3 of 4

These findings underscore the need for strengthened early detection and improved access to pediatric eye care services to reduce avoidable vision loss.

Conclusion · 4 of 4

Longitudinal studies are warranted to further clarify risk patterns and inform targeted intervention strategies.

Post

Prevalence of visual impairment and associated risk factors: a cross-sectional community-based study among children and adolescents in Ghana.

About 6% of Ghanaian children had impaired distance vision.

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