Prevalence of Mental Ill-Health among Visually Impaired Patients in a Tertiary Institution in Southwestern Nigeria.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: To study the mental health status of patients with visual impairment in a tertiary institution in Southwestern Nigeria. OBJECTIVES: To determine the mental health status of individuals with loss of vision in Ogbomoso and associated factors. METHODOLOGY: A descriptive cross-sectional study. Questionnaires were administered to obtain information on the socio-demographic characteristics and mental health status. Test for association was done. A total score greater than or equal to 4 out of the 28 items of the General Health Questionnaire was considered a case of mental ill-health. RESULTS: 250 subjects were studied, out of which 126 (50%) were found to have mental ill-health. Statistically significant association was found between age, level of education, occupation, duration of loss of vision, and pattern of loss of vision (p-values < 0.001, 0.020, 0.001, and 0.001 respectively) in bivariate analysis, however, age and pattern of vision loss were not significantly associated with loss of vision in multivariate analysis. Those who lost their vision less than two years from the time of the study had a higher risk of mental health morbidity. Those with sudden vision loss were 3.48 times more likely to have mental health morbidity in bivariate analysis, compared with those with progressive visual loss. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of mental ill-health among people with vision loss is high. Associated factors included level of education, occupation and duration of loss of vision. Predictors of good mental health included younger age group, higher level of education, being employed, longer duration of loss of vision and progressive pattern of vision loss.