ABSTRACT
Childhood
ocular injuries causes temporary pain and functional limitation, permanent
disability, traumatic stress, depression, chronic pain, blindness and a
profound change in lifestyle and decreased ability to perform age-appropriate
activities. This
study surveyed perception of causes and prevention of childhood ocular injuries
among primary school teachers in Enugu North Local Government Area of Enugu
State. The specific objectives were to ascertain what teachers view as ocular
injuries among children, determine what primary school teachers perceive as the
causes of ocular injuries among children as well as ascertain what teachers can
identify as preventive measures against childhood ocular injuries. The target
population of the study was made up of the 354 teachers in 28 public primary
schools in Enugu North Local Government Area of Enugu State from which a sample
size of 189 teachers was drawn using Taro Yamane formula. Survey research
design was adopted for the study with self-designed questionnaire as instrument
for data collection. Data collected were analyzed descriptively indicating
frequencies and percentages. Results obtained were presented in tables and
charts. Findings showed that majority of the respondents perceive ocular
injuries as injuries involving the eye with 82% of them having witnessed a
child involved in ocular injuries. About 70.5% identified hard blow to the eye
as a major cause of ocular injuries while 38.4% indicated poor parental/adult
supervision, 33% indicated children playful attitude, 20% children immaturity
as causes of childhood ocular injuries. Results further indicated that 80.5% of
respondents indicated health educating children as a preventive measure against
childhood ocular injuries. Based on the findings, the researcher among other
things recommended that ophthalmic nurses and other professionals in the eye
care team should continually embark on school visits where teachers and pupils
would be sensitized on the causes, sources and implication so ocular injuries.
This will go a long raise their awareness level leading to effective preventive
measures against childhood ocular injuries.
