No research is available about the causes of childhood blindness in Viet Nam, which makes it difficult to plan interventions. The aim of this study was to investigate the causes of childhood blindness in Viet Nam by examining children in schools for the disabled.
A total of 264 school children from nine schools in southern Viet Nam were enrolled in this study. Half of the participants were from Ho Chi Minh City, while the rest were from other provinces.
Data were collected using the World Health Organization Prevention of Blindness recording form and children were examined by an ophthalmologist. Data were also collected on educational and rehabilitation services available at those schools.
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) accounted for 83.9% of blindness among those aged five years or younger, for 37.7% among those aged 6–10, and for 8.5% in those aged 11–16. In children from Ho Chi Minh City, it was the most important single cause of childhood blindness, accounting for 46.3% in total. Corneal scarring was not a major cause of blindness, accounting for only 12.4% of all cases, but it was found more frequently in children aged 11–16 from provinces other than Ho Chi Minh City.
Rehabilitation services were limited; there was no psychological support or vocational training outside of that provided in the national curriculum.
A survey of disabled schools gives a biased view of the main causes of blindness and, ideally, a population-based survey would need to be done. The fact that ROP is present in a larger proportion of younger children than older children could indicate an increase in this condition overtime; this may warrant further investigation. ROP appears to be the most important single cause of childhood blindness in children from Ho Chi Minh City, and it should therefore be a priority for intervention. In addition, more direct support should also be given to blind children in schools for the disabled.
Tran Huy Hoang (far left) and his research team at Ho Chi Minh Eye Hospital VIET NAM