Social inequalities in blindness and visual impairment: a review of social determinants

• Published in: Indian journal of ophthalmology Vol. 60; no. 5; pp. 368 - 375
• Main Authors: Ulldemolins, Anna Rius, Lansingh, Van C, Valencia, Laura Guisasola, Carter, Marissa J, Eckert, Kristen A
• Format: Journal Article Publication
• Language: English
• Published: India Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd 01.09.2012; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: Aspectes socials; Blindness; Blindness - epidemiology; Care and treatment; Ciències de la salut; Community eye health; Demographic aspects; Desenvolupament humà; Desenvolupament humà i sostenible; Diabetes-related blindness; diabetic retinopathy; disability; Economic aspects; Educational Status; equity; Eyes & eyesight; gender and ethnic groups; Global Health; health and development; Health care disparities; health economics; health policy; Health Surveys; Humans; income; Inequality; key informant; Malalties i defectes; Methods; ophthalmogical residency; Països en vies de desenvolupament; Prevalence; Prevalence studies (Epidemiology); prevention of blindness; rapid assessment of avoidable blindness; retinopathy of prematurity; Review; Salut; Social aspects; social class; Social economics; social exclusion; Socioeconomic Factors; tele-ophthalmology; Ulls; VISION 2020; Vision disorders; Vision, Low - epidemiology; Visual impairment; Àrees temàtiques de la UPC; India
• ISSN: 0301-4738; 1998-3689
• DOI: 10.4103/0301-4738.100529

Health inequities are related to social determinants based on gender, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, race, living in a specific geographic region, or having a specific health condition. Such inequities were reviewed for blindness and visual impairment by searching for studies on the subject in PubMed from 2000 to 2011 in the English and Spanish languages. The goal of this article is to provide a current review in understanding how inequities based specifically on the aforementioned social determinants on health influence the prevalence of visual impairment and blindness. With regards to gender inequality, women have a higher prevalence of visual impairment and blindness, which cannot be only reasoned based on age or access to service. Socioeconomic status measured as higher income, higher educational status, or non-manual occupational social class was inversely associated with prevalence of blindness or visual impairment. Ethnicity and race were associated with visual impairment and blindness, although there is general confusion over this socioeconomic position determinant. Geographic inequalities and visual impairment were related to income (of the region, nation or continent), living in a rural area, and an association with socioeconomic and political context was suggested. While inequalities related to blindness and visual impairment have rarely been specifically addressed in research, there is still evidence of the association of social determinants and prevalence of blindness and visual impairment. Additional research should be done on the associations with intermediary determinants and socioeconomic and political context.