Risk Factors of Myopia Among Students: A Case Study in Selected Garrison Junior High Schools in The Greater Accra Region

Abstract

Background: Myopia (short-sightedness) is recognized as significant global health and socioeconomic problem that will affect billions of people in the subsequent decades. The increasing prevalence of myopia has huge social and educational consequences on society. Myopia exists expansively among students and affects not only their physical health and academic work, but also predisposes them to other ocular complications such as myopic retinopathy, glaucoma, and blindness. The main objective of this study was to determine risk factors associated with myopia among selected Garrison Junior High School students in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional quantitative study of students attending selected Garrison Junior High Schools in Accra, Ghana. Questionnaires were administered to the respondents and non-cycloplegic refraction was carried out for those who failed the visual acuity test using the Snellen’s Chart. Myopia in this study was defined as a spherical error of less than 0.50 D in one eye. Results: The findings from this study revealed the prevalence of myopia to be 18.69% among the Garrison Junior High Schools students. Engaging in personal studies of more than two (2) hours daily outside school puts an individual at 4.25 increased odds of developing myopia compared to those who engaged in less than two (2) hours daily. Also, performing more than an hour of outdoor leisure activity daily is associated with 0.51 decreased odds of developing myopia compared to those who engaged in less than an hour of outdoor leisure activities daily. Conclusion: It was observed that long hours spent on outdoor leisure/sports activities and long hours spent on personal studies were significantly associated with a lower and higher risk of developing myopia respectively among 5-Garrison Junior High School students.