Ocular Morbidity Among Chepang Children, An Indigenous Ethnic Group of Nepal

Abstract

Background: Chepang are the indigenous community inhabiting at mountain region of central Nepal sharing Mongolian features. Their literacy rate is below average and economic state is also miserable. Overall, this community is very backward and is the poorest of Nepal’s poor. The prevalence of ocular abnormalities in Chepang has rarely been reported. A very little is known about the ocular morbidity status among Chepang children. Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out to find the prevalence of refractive error and other ocular morbidities among Chepang children. A complete eye examination was carried out in all children including slit lamp examination, fundus examination, retinoscopy and subjective refraction. Result: Of 120 children, refractive error was present in 18 (15%) children. The prevalence of myopia (spherical equivalent, −0.50 D or more in either eye), astigmatism (≥0.75 D), and hyperopia (+0.50D or more) was 4.1%, 6.6%, and 4.1% respectively. Of 120 children, 2(1.67%) had amblyopia, 4(3.33%) had cataract, 1(0.83%) had nystagmus, 2(1.67%) had corneal opacity, 8(6.67%) had blepharitis, 4(3.33%) had conjunctivitis. The overall prevalence of ocular morbidity was 32.5% Conclusion: Ocular morbidity is more prevalent among chepang children and is a public health concern among these indigenous populations.