Table 3. Barriers for uptake of services among visually impaired (n = 400).
Main Barrier | Moderate Visual Impairment (<6/18–6/60) n (%) | Blindness (<6/60) n (%) | All Visual Impairment (<6/18) n (%) |
Cannot afford cost of services (E) | 126 (46.8) | 61 (46.6) | 187 (46.8) |
Aware of the problem, need not felt (FN) | 43 (16.0) | 18 (13.7) | 61 (15.3) |
Old age need not felt (FN) | 33 (12.3) | 24 (18.3) | 57 (14.3) |
One eye vision adequate (FN) | 8 (3.0) | 2 (1.5) | 10 (2.5) |
No time, other commitments (P) | 17 (6.3) | 3 (2.3) | 20 (5.0) |
Other health problems (P) | 11 (4.1) | 5 (3.8) | 16 (4.0) |
No escort (P) | 9 (3.3) | 5 (3.8) | 14 (3.5) |
Fear of losing sight(P) | 4 (1.5) | 3 (2.3) | 7 (1.8) |
Unaware of the problem (P) | 7 (2.6) | 0 (0.0) | 7 (1.8) |
Waiting for cataract to mature (S) | 9 (3.3) | 8 (6.1) | 17 (4.3) |
Services very far (S) | 2 (0.7) | 2 (1.5) | 4 (1.0) |
269 (100.0) | 131 (100.0) | 400 (100.0) |
E = Economic reasons; FN = Barriers related to felt need; P = Personal reasons; S = Service related barriers.