Dr.CACULO DIVYA UPENDRA

Dr.Priti Kapadia Gupta

Abstract

Children with strabismus when left untreated face psychosocial and functional difficulties in adulthood. With an aim to study this in depth, an attitude and a barrier scale was structured and validated on the basis of the AS 20 Questionnaire and a Barrier Scale. A total of 1747 children, between the age group of 5 to 12 years, both from urban and rural schools were screened for strabismus. 36 strabismic children were identified, questionnaires were given to their parents and their responses were studied on the basis of different parameters like age of the child, amount of squint, type of squint and gender of the child. Mean scores were compared in Urban and Rural areas and the comparison revealed that the attitude of parents is not dependent on one variable alone but on an amalgamation of multiple variables. Barrier scale was also evaluated. The study reiterated the importance of health education regarding this condition to prevent strabismic amblyopia and its psychosocial impact.