Prevalence and Associated Factors of Amblyopia Among School Age Children at Bahir Dar City, Northwest Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Worldwide, amblyopia prevalence among children is in the range of 0.13% to 12.9%. However, there are no known community-based data regarding amblyopia prevalence and its associated factors among school age children in Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of amblyopia and to identify factors associated with amblyopia among school age children in Bahir Dar city, northwest Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study among a school age community of Bahir Dar city was conducted from April 1 to May 29, 2018. Data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire and checklist through interview and physical examination. Bivariable logistic regression was done, and variables with value +5D hypermetropia were about 22 times (AOR=21.77, CI: 7.15-66.34) more as compared to participants who had no hypermetropia. The prevalence of amblyopia among school age children at Bahir Dar city is higher than the World Health Organization cut point. Having anisometropia greater than 1 diopter, anisometropia >2 diopter, having anisometropia less than 1 diopter, having a history of strabismus, having a hyperopia of > +5 diopter, > +2 diopter, having a positive history of visual deprivation and having a positive history of strabismus in the family were the significant factors positively associated with amblyopia.