Kilanglanga Ngoy Janvier
Kinshasa Hospital, DRC
Title: Determinants of late surgical uptake of congenital cataract in Kinshasa/DRC
Biography
Biography: Kilanglanga Ngoy Janvier
Abstract
Aim: To determine barriers to the early surgical uptake for bilateral congenital cataract and regular follow- up after surgery in Kinshasa-DRC Methods: We reviewed 52 medical files of children who underwent surgery for bilateral congenital cataract in a tertiary eye health center from 2011 to 2013 and made a cross-sectional analysis of different determinants from children and their parents or tutors according to the surgery .A complete ophthalmological examination with clinical and socio-demographic evaluation was assessed using a questionnaire in order to determine possible barriers. We defined a late presentation when a child is presented for surgery later than 12 months of age. Results: The mean age at presentation was 5.4±4.8years old .The most frequent type of cataract was the obturant cataract with 82.4% for the right eye and 68.6% for the left eye. Nystagmus and strabismus were the more frequent associated ocular conditions respectively 47.1% and 43.2%.Children operated on earlier (before 1 year of age) represented 25.5% in our series. Barriers for late presentation for surgery were: lack of education of parents (79%), influence of advices from other people, inability to afford the surgery cost, lack of awareness on cataract from parents and guardians, jobless parents. Conclusion: Cultural and socio-economic factors were encountered as main determinants of late presentation of children suffering for pediatric cataract for surgery.