Knowledge, Attitudes And Practices Of Paediatricians On The Management Of Childhood Eye Diseases In Ghana

Objective: To explore the knowledge, attitudes and practices of paediatricians on the management of eye diseases among children in Ghana. Methodology: This was a mixed model study, both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed among paediatricians practicing in hospitals across Ghana who consented to the study. Consecutive sampling was used to select participants. Self-administered, semi-structured questionnaires, in-depth interviews and focused group discussions were used to collect relevant data. Analysis was carried out with STATA version 14. Results: More than half (53, 60.2%) of Paediatricians practicing in Ghana had good knowledge of childhood eye diseases. Although almost all (89, 98.9%) paediatricians disagreed with the statement that ‘eye examination in children should be done only when the caregiver complains’ and a majority (79, 87.8%) of paediatricians responded “yes” to the question ‘do you do eye examination in children?’, fifty four (59.3%) indicated that in practice they only examined a child’s eye when the caregiver reports that the child has an eye problem, and only 24 (26.4%) indicated it was a routine part of every child’s examination in their practice. In addition, all paediatricians disagreed with the statement that ‘eye examination in children can only be done by an eye care worker’. These assertions were clarified during the in-depth interviews and focused group discussions where paediatricians conceded that only general inspection of the eyes is done when examining the eyes of children. Conclusion: Paediatricians had satisfactory knowledge and good attitude towards childhood eye diseases. However, their practices regarding childhood eye disease management were poor.