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StudyVulnerable children and youth studies · 2026

Visual acuity problems, access to care, and related academic performance among primary school students in Tanzania: a mixed methods study.

Michael Maizel, Arisa Shichijo, David Gitagno … Joy Noel Baumgartner

OphthalmologyStudy

Reduced or impaired vision was associated with lower academic exam scores in Tanzanian students.

Visual acuity problems, access to care, and related academic performance among primary school students in Tanzania: a mixed methods study.

Michael Maizel … Joy Noel Baumgartner

Vulnerable children and youth studies · 2026

Background

Adolescents in lower-resource countries face a high burden of eye health problems.

Purpose

This study in Tanzania aimed to 1) estimate the prevalence of distance vision impairment among young adolescents, 2) describe academic performance by distance visual acuity status, and 3) examine facilitators and barriers to school-facilitated vision screenings and receiving eye care.

Methods

Participants (primary school students in Standard 7) in the intervention arm of the Vijana Tambua Afya, translated as "Youth Health Check," clinical trial (n=509) attended school-facilitated, clinic-based health check-ups that included distance vision screening (presenting acuity).

n = 509

Results

share of vision-impaired students who scored a C or lower on exams

Reduced/impaired visio

71.9%

Normal vision, C or lo

59.9%

More results

Data included adolescent surveys, medical record extraction, and Primary School Leaving Examination scores.

Overall, based on their worse eye, 6.9% of students had mildly- reduced vision and 4.3% had impaired vision on screening.

Less than 10% of students referred received follow-up care.

More results

Given the prevalence of visual impairment and its potential link to academic performance, governments should consider requiring school-based distance vision screenings.

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Conclusion

Further research on screening implementation strategies and strengthening follow-up care is needed.

Post

Visual acuity problems, access to care, and related academic performance among primary school students in Tanzania: a mixed methods study.

Reduced or impaired vision was associated with lower academic exam scores in Tanzanian students.

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