Teachers’ and parents’ perceptions and knowledge on vision screening for children in basic school in Winneba

Abstract

The purpose of this study was toexamine teachers’ and parents’perceptions and knowledge on vision screening for children in basic school in Winneba. The study design was cross-sectional survey, questionnaire was the main instrument used to collect quantitative data. Simple random sampling and convenient sampling techniques were used to select a sample of 80 teachers and 40 parents to help answer the research questions. Responses were categorized and converted to frequency counts and simple percentages. The findings revealed that 70% of the teachers had negative perceptions about vision screening while 90% of the parents have positive perceptions about vision screening for basic school children. Eighty-seven percent of the teachers confirmed that basic school children have never received any form of vision screening in their schools while 70% of the parents have never taken their children for vision screening. Fifty-seven percent of teachers had knowledge in functional vision assessment while 59% of the teachers had no knowledge in learning media assessment. Few of the teachers (3%) and parents (20%) lacked knowledge on common eye disorders that affect basic school children. Both parents and teachers perceived that public awareness, availability of resources, cost involved, beliefs and cultures, the involvement of schools and parental involvement can influence vision screening and visual assessment for basic school children. Based on the findings, recommendations made included the need for public education on vision screening and visual assessment by the Ghana Health Service in collaboration with the Ministry of Education as well as the media, training of more eye-care providers by nurses and medical schools, in-service training of teachers in basic vision screening by eye care providers, funds for resources for vision screening and visual assessment should be provided by the government, NGOs, and individual philanthropists and each basic school should have special educators to assist in eye screening and visual assessment.