Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Infant Ocular Health among Midwives in the Bosomtwe District

Background: Careful monitoring of the neonate ocular health is a factor that can help in the reduction of child blindness. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of infant ocular health among midwives in the Bosomtwe District. Methods: Study type was Descriptive Cross-Sectional. Study was carried out among midwives practicing in the various neonatal units within hospitals in the Bosomtwe District. Data collection was by the use of a structured questionnaire hand delivered to all participants. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) package version 20. Level of knowledge was categorized using Blooms cut-off points into good (> 80%), moderate (60 80%) and poor (< 60%). Results: Out of 62 respondents, 50.7% were knowledgeable in infant ocular conditions. Poorest level of knowledge was recorded in retinoblastoma (6.5%) whiles level of knowledge in Ophthalmia neonatorum (100%) was the best. Thirty-six (58.1%) of the respondents performed ocular examination on infants. Majority of the respondents (85.5%) referred all abnormalities detected. Education of mothers was done by 82.3% of respondents and only 29% indicated receiving some form of in-service training with regards to infant ocular health. Attitude of respondents was positive with 74.2% of respondents disagreeing that infant ocular health monitoring should only be done by an eye care professional. Conclusion: Overall, respondents had poor level of knowledge in infant ocular conditions. However level of practice was satisfactory and there was generally positive attitude toward infant ocular health.