Cataract services uptake by outreach camp patients at Ibadan Nigeria

Cataract is the commonest cause of blindness globally and in many developing countries but uptake of cataract surgery is poor even by outreach patients. Identification of factors preventing adequate use of surgical services would help make required adjustments for optimum service utilization by cataract outreach Objective: To determine factors which prevent outreach patients undergoing surgery at University College Hospital, Ibadan and to make appropriate recommendations for improvedcataract surgery uptake. Methods:consenting cataract blind/visually impaired (presenting vision > 6/60) outreach patients identified from the outreach patient register of the University College Hospital Ibadan to have been seen during a five months period January to May 2009 were followed up for a visit in late June and July 2009. A semi-structured questionnaire schedule along with standard ophthalmic equipment were used for data collection. All those who did not use the services were administered a barriers questionnaire-schedule while those who accepted the services were administered a questionnaire schedule to elicit motivating factors.Poor utilization of cataract service was mostly due to cost.