Objective: To establish the prevalence and causes of blindness
Design: Community based survey conducted in August 2006
Setting: Ruangwa district
Subjects: One thousand one hundred and seventy three people of all age groups
Results: Prevalence of blindness in Ruangwa is 3.5%. The prevalence of blindness
increases with advancing age ranging from 1.1% among children 15 years and
below to 15.6% among adults aged 60 years and above. Prevalence is higher (8.9%)
among people who had never been to school compared to those who had attended
primary school (1.5%). The leading causes of blindness are cataract (32.6%) and
trachomatous corneal opacities (32.6%).
Conclusion: The prevalence of blindness in Ruangwa district is a public health
problem. The prevalence of blinding cataract and that of blinding trachoma are
equal.
Recommendation: Prevention of blindness efforts in Ruangwa district should focus
equally on cataract and trachoma.