REASONS FOR DELAYED UTILIZATION OF CATARACT SURGERY AMONG PATIENTS ATTENDING A TERTIARY REFERRAL CENTRE, MAHARASHTRA.
BACKGROUND: Cataract is a major cause of vision impairment in many low-income settings. Cataract blindness is a disease which has severe economic repercussions and adversely affects the productivity of country. However, despite rapid increase in the availability of quality services, surgical acceptance is still low in some segments of society. AIM: To study the various reasons for delayed utilization of cataract surgery. METHODS: In this cross sectional study 450 patients above 40 years of age who were admitted in ophthalmology ward for cataract surgery were enrolled by systematic random sampling technique. Socio-demographic data was collected by interviews in local language on predesigned and semi structured proforma. The various reasons for delayed utilization of cataract surgery were asked to them. Statistical tests applied were chi square test and percentages. RESULTS: Majority of the study subjects were illiterate females above 60 years of age belonging to lower socioeconomic status. Most of the study subjects were Hindus from rural area having unilateral blindness. The various reasons for delayed utilization of cataract surgery were economic problems (76.7%), ignorance by patient (29.1%), fear of operation (26.4%), ignorance by head of family (22.4%) and suspicion about improvement of vision after surgery (21.5%). Some subjects gave reasons as lack of accompanying person, fear of surgery causing death, lack of time, its God will and lack of transport. CONCLUSION: The predominant reason for delayed utilization of cataract surgery was economic constraints. Other reasons were ignorance by patients and head of family, fear of operation and death, suspicion about improvement of vision, God's will, lack of accompanying person and lack of transport.