Visually significant cataract and associated factors among older people attending a community ophthalmic service in central Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of visually significant cataract and associated factors among older people attending community ophthalmic services in the central Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia.

Methods: We conducted a community outreach-based cross-sectional study among adults aged ≥40 years in the central Gondar Zone from 30 May to 15 June 2021. We used systematic random sampling to select study participants. Interviewer-administered questionnaires and ocular examinations were performed and the data recorded. We applied binary logistic regression to identify factors associated with visually significant cataract.

Results: A total of 821 participants were included, with median age 57 years. The prevalence of visually significant cataract was 29.1% (95% CI: 26.1-32.0). Age ≥80 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 16.9; 95% CI: 7.5-38.4), rural residence (AOR = 1.7; 95% CI: 1.02-2.7), unmarried status (AOR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.2-3.2), illiteracy (AOR = 2.9; 95% CI: 1.4-6.1), unemployed status (AOR = 1.7; 95% CI: 1.1-2.7), and sunlight exposure ≥5 hours per day (AOR = 1.6; 95% CI: 1.04-2.4) were significantly associated with visually significant cataract.

Conclusion: In this study, visually significant cataract was found to be high, which requires immediate public health intervention.