A study to assess visual acuity and lifestyle mong school children in selected schools abstract Bhambri Nancy1, Kaur Davinder2 1Asstt. Professor, Gian Sagar CON, Rajpura 2Principal, Gian Sagar CON, Rajpura *Address for Correspondence: Mrs. Nancybhambri, Assistant Professor, Gian Sagar College of Nursing, Ram Nagar, Rajpura. Email: bhambrinancy@gmail.com, M.no. 94178–45583
Online published on 22 August, 2019. Abstract Introduction Abnormal visual acuity because of uncorrected refractive errors is a major public wealth problem in school children in India. Many factors such as our lifestyle, nutrition and reading habits affect the visual acuity. Studies have equally revealed that environmental factors play a minor pie in development of myopia whereas primary cause of this problem lies in hereditary factors. Aim The aim of the study was to ascertain the relationship between visual acuity and lifestyle among school children. Material and Methods A non-experimental, correlational study was conducted in three selected schools of Rajpura. The study accessible population consisted total 384 school children in the age group of 10–15 year. Out of this population, a total of 100 school children were selected by stratified ‘andom sampling technique who fulfilled defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. All children undenrvent lisual acuity testing by Snellen chart and an interview was scheduled to determine lifestyle of school children. Data was analyzed by inferential statistics and presented through tables and figures. Results Findings revealed that slightly more than half (54%) of the school children had abnormal lisual acuity. Higher number of school children (63.3%) with abnormal visual acuity had unhealthy lifestyle practices. School children with normal visual acuity had healthy nutritional status with mean percentage 67. 78% in contrast to unhealthy nutrition of those with abnormal visual acuity 66.05%. The Overall score of lifestyle was slightly lower (70. 15) in children with abnormal visual acuity as compared 0 children with normal visual acuity (71.63). Nutritional factor was found to be associated with visual acuity but none of the factor was found significantly related with status of visual acuity. Conclusion In the presence study, slightly more than half (54%) of school children had abnormal visual acuity. In addiction, it was found that except nutrition factor, lifestyle of school children was not'ound to be related with visual acuity. Furthermore, sociodemographic factors were not found to be significantly related with the visual acuity ofschool children. Top Keywords Visual acurty, lifestyle, school chrldren, schools. Top |