Dr. Hem Shah, S15729, Dr. Prajna N V, Mr. Sanil Joseph, Dr. Shivaa Ramsewak
Background: Keratitis , unlike glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy, is a very symptomatic condition. Still, patients present in the late stages resulting in them having to undergo TPK, which itself is not a vision restoring procedure. We used a systematic framework to understand the barriers at multiple levels and evaluated the chain of events.
Methods: Data originated from 103 patients who underwent TPK from Nov 2015- April 2016, interviewed as per barrier framework questionnaire.
Results:
Barriers were divided into intrapersonal level ( transport, presentation after injury) , interpersonal level ( literacy, occupation), institutional level and microbiological level.
Conclusions : 59.2% were illiterate, 42.7% were agricultural worker, 79.6% belonging to rural area, 60.2% presented after 1 week of injury, 30.8% were treated with antifungals and 88.3% were fungal keratitis. Our study informs health care providers for community awareness and focusing of resources in rural areas.