CHALLENGES IN EYE HEALTH CARE IN CHILDREN AND STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE

In Benin City, Nigeria, children continue to suffer from preventable visual impairments due to delayed diagnosis and limited access to specialized eye care. Contributing factors highlighted in prior studies include low caregiver awareness, financial constraints, and systemic weaknesses within the healthcare infrastructure. This purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives of eye care professionals on the major challenges affecting pediatric eye care delivery and to identify feasible strategies to improve treatment uptake among children in Benin City. A qualitative, exploratory design was used. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 70 eyecare professionals including optometrists, ophthalmologists and ophthalmic nurses in Benin City. The data were analyzed thematically to identify major challenges, barriers, and practical recommendations related to pediatric eye care delivery and utilization. Several systemic and clinical challenges were identified, including poor child cooperation during examination, financial constraints, inadequate infrastructure and equipment, poor follow-up and compliance, and weak school eye health programs. Barriers preventing parents from seeking or adhering to care included lack of awareness, high costs, long clinic waiting times and stigmatization of spectacle. Some of the recommendations made by participants include increasing public awareness campaigns, strengthening school eye health programs and subsidizing pediatric eye care costs. The participants emphasized on enhancing access and treatment compliance through a robust comprehensive approach involving public awareness, policy support, workforce training, community outreaches and integrating pediatric eye care into primary health and school systems.