OCULAR MORBIDITY PATTERNS AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND SELECTIVE DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES OBSERVED IN STUDENTS OF GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS AND MADRASAHS OF KOLKATA: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Abstract

Anindita Mondal1, Arnab Chatterjee2, Ujjal Pattanayak3, Sanjoy K. R. Sadhukhan4

INTRODUCTION: PURPOSE
To evaluate and compare the ocular morbidity status in students of Madrasahs and Govt. Schools of Kolkata.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
An institution-based, cross-sectional observational study with comparison between two groups, sample size derived from a Delhi based similar study. Study population was formed by all students of class V-VIII of Madrasahs and Govt. Schools of Kolkata. Sample design was by simple random sampling using Program for Epidemiologist Version 4. Randomly selected students were examined according to specified format to evaluate the socio-economic status; a questionnaire was given to each student to be filled by their parents. Data was evaluated on MS-Excel 2007, PEPI Version 4, SPSS Version 17.
RESULTS
37.7% children with ocular morbidities were from Madrasahs, and 62.3% children with ocular morbidities were from Govt. Schools of Kolkata. BMI has no association with ocular morbidities. Refractive error was commonest ocular morbidity observed, 9.33% in Madrasah students and 18.15% in Govt. School students. Myopia was commonest refractive error observed. Low socioeconomic status meant significantly higher ocular morbidities, but reverse was not true.
CONCLUSIONS
Madrasah student has lesser ocular morbidity, refractive error was the commonest ocular morbidity, Myopia being the commonest. Higher socio-economic status does not mean lesser ocular morbidity.

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