A multi-country study on cataract surgery uptake in a community-based eye health programme in resource-constrained settings

Main Objectives

• To characterise the level of cataract surgery uptake in a community-based eye health programme across multiple settings
• To determine the individual and programme level factors that influence the uptake of cataract surgery
• To understand the decision-making processes involved among individuals referred for cataract surgery
• To understand the role gender and disability play in the uptake of cataract surgery

Summary

The coordinated approach to community health (CATCH) programme is a Sightsavers-implemented, community-based project designed to improve access to eye health services and reduce avoidable blindness for persons in trachoma endemic areas. CATCH works alongside the Trachoma Elimination Programme.

The CATCH programme brings eye health services closer to the community and eliminates surgery costs and transportation costs, both known barriers of cataract surgery uptake. The programme has also invested in quality service provision, equipment and consumables all of which promote surgery uptake. Routine programmatic data estimates that uptake in the programme is 85 per cent.

This study seeks to understand the factors that influence cataract surgery uptake, including the decision-making pathways.