Glaucoma Awareness, Knowledge, and Eye-Care Seeking Behaviour Among First-Degree Relatives of Glaucoma Patients at a Regional Hospital in Ghana

Michel Pascal  Tchiakpe; Fiti Kwateng; Ebenezer Justice  Quainoo; Hubert Osei  Acheampong; Isaiah Osei  Duah Junior; Mohammed Abdul Kabir

doi:10.4314/just.v41i2.1334

Dr. Michel Pascal Tchiakpe Department of Optometry and Visual Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Dr. Fiti Kwateng Save the Nation’s Sight Clinic, Accra
Dr. Ebenezer Justice Quainoo Department of Optometry and Visual Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Dr. Hubert Osei Acheampong Department of Optometry and Visual Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Dr. Isaiah Osei Duah Junior Department of Optometry and Visual Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Dr. Mohammed Abdul-Kabir Department of Optometry and Visual Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/just.v41i2.1334

Keywords: glaucoma, awareness, knowledge, screening, relatives

Abstract

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Early detection and treatment
can prevent blindness. Individuals, especially those with positive family history of glaucoma
ought to have knowledge of the disease and seek assessment regularly for early detection and
treatment of the disease. The study explores and describes glaucoma awareness, knowledge,
and eye care-seeking behavior of first-degree relatives of glaucoma patients who attend the
Accra Regional Hospital Eye Unit. The descriptive cross-sectional study utilized a questionnaire
to interview 306 conveniently sampled participants with mean ± SD age of 35.5 ± 10.3 years.
Among participants, 52.6% were males. There was a moderate level of awareness of glaucoma
(60.8%) among study participants. Most respondents did not know the risk factors of glaucoma
(66.3%), the asymptomatic nature of glaucoma (80.7%), and irreversibility of vision loss in
glaucoma (89.6%). Only 23.2% of respondents had screened for glaucoma. Social media was the
main source of glaucoma awareness (45.7%) and information to screen for glaucoma (52.4%).
The occupation (p=0.001) and level of education (p<0.0005) of respondents were significantly
associated with knowledge of glaucoma. Similarly, the occupation (p=0.001), level of education
(p=0.035), and being informed to screen for glaucoma (p<0.0001) were significantly associated
with glaucoma screening. Knowledge of glaucoma and glaucoma screening among first degree
relatives of glaucoma patients are low. There is the need for eye-care professionals to provide
accurate and comprehensive education on glaucoma and also embark on targeted glaucoma
screening programs.

Author Biographies

Dr. Michel Pascal Tchiakpe, Department of Optometry and Visual Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Michel Pascal Tchiakpe is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Optometry and Visual
Science, Faculty of Biosciences, College of Science, KNUST. He holds a B.Sc Biochemistry,
Post Dip. Optometry, M.Sc Health Services Planning and Management (HSPM), and a Doctor of
Optometry (OD) degree. His special areas of interest include Glaucoma, Geriatric Vision and
Low Vision. He is a trained and practicing Low Vision Specialist and has over 15 years of
experience in low vision service delivery. He is a service lecturer at Centre for Disability and
Rehabilitation Studies, School of Public Health, KNUST and is currently researching into
Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG) in people genetically linked to patients with POAG. He
is a contributor to over 12 publications on eye health.

Dr. Fiti Kwateng, Save the Nation’s Sight Clinic, Accra

Fiti Kwateng is an Optometrist at Save the Nation’s Sight Clinic, Accra. She holds a Doctor of
Optometry degree from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. She is a
member of the Allied Health Professional Council and Ghana Optometry Association. She has a
strong interest in public eye health education particularly in ocular diseases that cause
irreversible blindness such as glaucoma.

Dr. Ebenezer Justice Quainoo, Department of Optometry and Visual Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Ebenezer Justice Quainoo graduated from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and
Technology with the Doctor of Optometry degree in 2020 and became a Clinical, Research, and
Teaching Assistant at the Department of Optometry and Visual Science at the Kwame Nkrumah
University of Science and Technology. His research interest is in vision science, particularly in
the area of glaucoma and other retinal degenerative diseases. He is a member of the Allied
Health Professional Council and Ghana Optometric Association and was the resident
Optometrist at Friends Eye Center, Kumasi. He is currently a PhD student and Graduate
Research Assistant at Augusta University, Georgia, United States.

Dr. Hubert Osei Acheampong, Department of Optometry and Visual Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Hubert Osei Acheampong graduated from the Doctor of Optometry program at the Kwame
Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in 2020 and became a Teaching and Research
Assistant at the Department of Optometry and Visual Science at the Kwame Nkrumah University

of Science and Technology from 2020 through 2021. He is currently a PhD student in the
Anatomy and Cell Biology program at Wayne State University, Michigan, United States. His
research interest is in the field of mitochondrial biology and neurodegenerative diseases
including glaucoma.

Dr. Isaiah Osei Duah Junior, Department of Optometry and Visual Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Isaiah Osei Duah Junior is an optometric resident and research assistant at the Department of
Optometry and Visual Science at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology,
Kumasi, Ghana. Isaiah has worked on various vision science, cognition, nutrition, metabolism,
and microbiology projects and has developed an interest in disease mechanisms and drug
discovery. He is a recipient of the Harvard Crossroad Emerging Leaders Fellowship, Frans
Oosterhof Travel Grant, Youth Think Tank Research Award, and the TiDi Foundation
Undergraduate Dissertation Research Grant and an active member of various international
organizations, notably the American Academy of Optometry, Association for Research in Vision
and Ophthalmology, Vision Sciences Society, American Society for Nutrition, American Society
of Microbiology and Convention of Biomedical Research Ghana.

Dr. Mohammed Abdul-Kabir, Department of Optometry and Visual Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Mohammed Abdul-Kabir is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Optometry and Visual
Science, Faculty of Biosciences, College of Science, KNUST. He has 35 publications in
reputable peer review journals and conference proceedings. He has given national and
international presentations and lectures in the areas of Public Health in Optometry, Paediatric eye
care and Binocular Vision. He uses his expertise to serve as reviewer for reputable local and
international peer review journals. He is currently a Visiting Scholar at Madonna University,
Elele, Revers State, Nigeria and E.N. Ayukotang Vision Institute, Bafoussam, Cameroon. He is
also currently working to develop a model strategy to improve ophthalmic services utilization in
Ghana. His research area of specialiazation include Anomalies of Binocular Vision,
Environmental Vision, Sports Vision, Public Health, and Paediatric Eye and Vision Care.