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| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Recurso digital |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Zenodo
2026
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18208893 |
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Table of Contents:
- <p><span>This study assessed parental knowledge and responsiveness toward refractive error correction among children aged 3–18 years who attended Bronze Eye Care & Optics, Bonaberi, Douala, Cameroon, between 2022 and 2024. A retrospective descriptive–analytical design was employed, analyzing 2,502 pediatric records to determine refractive error distribution and trends in spectacle uptake. Hyperopia accounted for 46.9% of all cases, followed by astigmatism (43.9%) and myopia (9.2%).</span></p> <p><span>To evaluate responsiveness, the Correction Uptake Ratio (CUR) was defined as the percentage of diagnosed children who obtained spectacles within the same year. Using this definition, the CUR increased progressively from 79.9% in 2022 to 94.0% in 2024, showing measurable improvement in correction adherence without exceeding 100%. Statistical analysis revealed a significant relationship between gender and spectacle uptake (χ² = 6.42, p = .01), with female children representing 70% of those receiving spectacles.</span></p> <p><span>Interpretation through the Health Belief Model (HBM) and Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) indicated that parental counseling, service accessibility, and perceived benefits influenced adherence to vision correction. The findings emphasize that structured parental counseling and school-based vision screening enhance compliance and enable earlier detection. Incorporating parental education into school and community health frameworks could strengthen national efforts toward achieving the World Health Organization’s Vision 2030 objectives for eliminating avoidable childhood visual impairment.</span></p> <p><span>This study provides evidence-based insight into behavioral and socioeconomic factors shaping parental decision-making in pediatric optometry. The outcomes underscore the need for integrated educational and policy interventions to sustain pediatric vision correction and ensure equitable access to refractive care in Cameroon.</span></p> <p><span>Keywords: parental knowledge, refractive errors, spectacle uptake, pediatric optometry, Cameroon, Vision 2030</span></p>