Prevalence of visual impairment and its association with vision-related quality of life among elderly persons in a resettlement colony of Delhi

Background: The population of India is ageing. The number and percentage of elderly persons is increasing. Visual impairment is common among elderly persons and affects their vision-related quality of life. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of visual impairment among elderly persons aged 60 years and above residing in a resettlement colony of Delhi and study its association with socio-demographic variables and vision-related quality of life. Methods: A total of 604 elderly participants were selected by simple random sampling. House-to-house visit was done, and a self-developed pre-tested semi-structured interview schedule was used to collect socio-demographic information. Visual acuity was measured using Snellen's chart, and distant direct ophthalmoscopy was done to diagnose cataract. Vision-related quality of life was assessed by Indian Vision Function Questionnaire-33 (IND-VFQ-33). Results: Of the 604 participants, 555 (91.9%) were available for interview. The prevalence of visual impairment was 24.5% (95% CI: 20.9% - 28.1%). Cataract was the leading cause of visual impairment (50.7%), followed by uncorrected refractive error (36.8%). Illiteracy (aOR: 3.49, 1.37-8.87), economic dependence on family members (aOR: 1.92, 1.04 – 3.54), not currently working (aOR: 1.89, 1.20-2.98) and chewing of tobacco products (aOR: 2.56, 1.48-4.42) were significantly associated with visual impairment among study participants. Vison-related quality of life was worse among those with visual impairment. Conclusion: Burden of visual impairment is high among elderly persons living in urban resettlement colonies. It is largely avoidable. Eye-care services should be accessible and affordable to them

Correction: Health behaviors, outcomes and their relationships among young men aged 18-24 years in a rural area of north India: A cross-sectional study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220285.]

Health behaviors, outcomes and their relationships among young men aged 18-24 years in a rural area of north India: A cross-sectional study.

BackgroundThere is limited information related to health behaviors and their related factors among young men in rural setting of India. This study was conducted to investigate multiple health risk behaviors and outcomes among young men aged 18-24 years in rural India.MethodsThis was a community-based cross-sectional survey conducted in the Ballabgarh block of Faridabad district, Haryana, India. Information regarding socio-demographic details, substance use, injury & violence, mental health and sexual behaviors were collected using a semi-structured interview schedule. Age adjusted prevalence estimates of behaviors and outcomes are computed along with 95% Confidence Intervals. Mediation analysis was carried out to examine relationships between socio-demographic variables, select behaviors and outcomes reported in the study.ResultsA total of 836 young men participated in the study, with mean (SD) age of 20.6 (1.9) years. The age-adjusted prevalence (with 95% Confidence Interval) for ever use of tobacco, alcohol, and other substances was 34.2% (33.9, 34.5), 23.4% (23.2, 23.6), and 4.5% (4.4, 4.5), respectively. Loneliness and suicidal thoughts were reported by 237 and 35 youth men with age adjusted prevalence as 28.6%, 95% CI: 28.4-28.8 and 4.3%, 95% CI: 4.23-4.31, respectively. A total of 330 young men met serious injury in past one year (prevalence 39.3%, 95%CI: 39.01-39.67). Almost one-third of men (prevalence 30.6%, 95%CI: 30.34-30.85) had engaged in pre-marital sexual intercourse. Current substance use was found to be significant mediator for associations with socio-demographic variables studied for dependent variables viz. pre-marital sexual intercourse and serious injury.ConclusionHigh prevalence of various risk behaviors and outcomes was found in young men aged 18-24 years in our rural setting. It is imperative that multi-component health intervention package be rolled out to address these