Prevalence and associated factors of Amblyopia among Children Visiting Ophthalmology Department of St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College

Abstract

Abstract Background: Amblyopia, a leading cause of preventable childhood visual impairment, results from abnormal visual development during the critical period. Late diagnosis, often due to low awareness, can lead to irreversible vision loss. However, data on its prevalence and risk factors in Ethiopia remain limited and inconsistent. Objectives: The main aim of this study is to assess the prevalence and factors associated with amblyopia among children aged 3 to 15 years who were attending pediatric ophthalmology clinic at SPHMMC, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from September 2024 to August 2025. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in children aged 3 to 15 years visiting Ophthalmology department of SPHMMC. Seven hundred fifty-one children visiting the ophthalmology department from September 2024 to August 2025 were recruited with systematic random sampling. Data was collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and clinical examination by trained nurses, residents, and optometrists. Data was cleaned using Epi data software version 7.2.7 and analyzed using SPSS software version 26. The factors associated with amblyopia were explored using bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models. A P value < 0.05 was used to declare the statistical significance of the association between the dependent and independent variables. Result: Among 751 children, the overall amblyopia prevalence was 30.36% (CI: 27.1% 33.8%) (n=228). Strabismic amblyopia was the most common type (73.68%), followed by isometropic (57.46%) and mixed amblyopia (42.98%). As the multivariable logistic regression analsis showed refractive error (aOR=39.64, 95% CI: 16.00–98.18, p<0.001), strabismus (aOR=24.91, 95% CI: 12.96–47.88, p<0.001), and cataract history (aOR=15.14; 95% CI: 2.34 97.77, p=0.004) were independently associated risk factors for amblyopia. Conclusion: This study exhibited that prevalence of amblyopia among children in the study area is significant. Additionally, refractive error, strabismus and cataract history were found to be important factors associated with amblyopia among children. Local health authorities should strengthen community-based childhood vision screening and awareness programs to promote early detection and management of amblyopia and its associated risk factors. Keywords: Amblyopia, Associated factors, St. Paul’s Millennium Medical College Hospital