Visual disability among children in China between 1987 and 2006

Objective To analyze the prevalence rate,distribution,determinants and causes of visual disability among children in China between 1987 and 2006.Methods Data for the children aged 0-14 years were derived from two waves of National Sample Survey on Disability in China during 1987 and 2006.Chi-square test and unconditioned binary logistic regression were utilized to explore the distribution characteristics and determinants of visual disability.Results Among the children surveyed,the age-standardized prevalence rate of overall visual disability increased by 25.49%, from 86.37 in 1987 to 108.38 per 100 000 children in 2006,with a decrease of 10.21% in the age-standardized prevalence rate of blind and an increase of 56.06% in the age-standardized prevalence rate of low vision from 1987 to 2006.Logistic regression analyses showed that gender and age were significantly associated with visual disability among children in 1987; while significant associations of age,ethnicity,family size,and place of residence with visual disability were observed in 2006.For the causes of visual disability in the children,both birth defects and ametropia or amblyopia were most important factors,totally accounting for 66.24% and 70.91% of all visual disability in 1987 and in 2006.However,compared with in 1987,the proportion of visual disability caused by birth defects decreased but that caused by ametropia or amblyopia increased in 2006.Conclusion The prevalence rate of overall visual disability in Chinese children increased from 1987 to 2006,but the prevalence rate of blind and low vision changed differently possibly because of the variations in causes of visual disability.In comparison with 1987,socioeconomic factors became significant in determining the prevalence of visual disability in the children.