SELF TREATMENT OF EYE DISEASES IN MALAWI

Authors

  • Thomas John Bisika School of Public Health, University of Pretoria
  • Paul Courtright British Columbia Centre for Epidemiologic and International Ophthalmology
  • Robert Geneau University of Ottawa
  • Lucy Chimimbo Centre for Social Research, University of Malawi
  • Antonio Kasote Centre for Social Research, University of Malawi
  • Moses Chirambo

Keywords:

eye diseases, Malawi, self-treatment, traditional eye medicine, health service utilization

Abstract

Self-treatment for eye diseases is very common in most developing countries yet there has been little investigation of such attitudes and practices. In many settings, people do not proceed beyond self-treatment and do not receive care from either traditional healers or Western eye care providers. Visual impairment and blindness can be the result. We conducted population-based survey of use of eye care services and self-treatment in two districts of Malawi. Adults were administered a detailed interview regarding their use of eye care services (Western and traditional as well as self-treatment) and their knowledge and use of traditional eye medicines. Self-treatment was defined as use of either Western or traditional medicines by the individual for their most recent eye condition. Only eye conditions that were considered severe by the study subjects were correlated with treatment options. Interviews were carried out among 800 adults in the study areas. Self-treatment was reported for the last episode of eye disease by 39.8% of the study population. Factors associated with self-treatment included sex, religion and socioeconomic status. Even though 76.8% of the respondents reported treatment from the health center or hospital to be the least expensive option, many opted for self-treatment first. Among those opting for self-treatment 72% used traditional eye medicines. Even among cases that individuals considered to be quite severe (these included cataract, trachoma and conjunctivitis), self-treatment was the option of choice in 22.2% of cases.

Author Biographies

Thomas John Bisika, School of Public Health, University of Pretoria

Dr Thomas Bisika is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria and a Research Fellow of the Centre for Social Research, University of Malawi

Paul Courtright, British Columbia Centre for Epidemiologic and International Ophthalmology

Dr Courtright is the Director of Kilimanjaro Centre for Community Ophthalmology and a Professor at the British Columbia Centre for Epidemiologic and International Ophthalmology, University of British Columbia

Robert Geneau, University of Ottawa

Dr Geneau is a postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa

Lucy Chimimbo, Centre for Social Research, University of Malawi

Ms. Chimombo is a research assistant at the University of Malawi, Centre for Social Research

Antonio Kasote, Centre for Social Research, University of Malawi

Mr Kasota is a Research Assistant at the University of Malawi, Centre for Social Research

Moses Chirambo

Dr Chirambo is the Director of the Lions SightFirst Hospital in Malawi.

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Published

2008-10-24

How to Cite

Bisika, T. J., Courtright, P., Geneau, R., Chimimbo, L., Kasote, A., & Chirambo, M. (2008). SELF TREATMENT OF EYE DISEASES IN MALAWI. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 6(1), 23–29. Retrieved from https://athmsi.org/journals/index.php/ajtcam/article/view/459

Issue

Section

Research Papers