Demand for and provision of eye care services in slum populations in Jaipur, India

Main Objectives

The overall aim of this study is to better understand the demand for and provision of eye care services in the city of Jaipur, with a specific focus on urban slum-dwelling communities.

Summary

The study was conducted in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India and is one of three studies conducted by Sightsavers with the aim to better understand the provision of and demand for eye care services in urban slums in the region.

Mixed-methods design and both quantitative and qualitative data were undertaken for this survey.

As a result, the study showed that ocular morbidities are common in the surveyed slum population in Jaipur. The population has a variety of eye care facilities available to them, and the majority of the population knows about eye health and where to seek eye care. The majority understands the importance of eye care in general, and spectacles in particular, and are willing to pay for spectacles to correct vision. However, the data collected also demonstrate that eye health remains a low priority when personally affected, with delayed or no compliance with treatment. Further research into the prevalence of visual impairment and cataract coverage would also be useful to guide local planning of eye health services for this population.