2.2 How to assess current and past output of eye-care services

First of all, population data for the district are needed. The local or national census office usually has the latest census data or population projections, by age group, gender, urban-rural distribution, and growth rate. Another reliable source is the planning unit of the ministry of health. If such data are not available in these locations, the internet sites mentioned under “Population data” may provide such data for your country.

Also, collect general indicators such as literacy rates, under-5 mortality rate, and the coverage of measles and rubella vaccination. Finally, obtain detailed maps of the area being considered.

Then, collect output data relating to all activities for the prevention and control of blindness during the previous five years from all partners that provide eye care services in the district. Minimal data should include the following.

Performance data for eye care during the past five years for the entire district:
- admissions per unit; total admissions per year
- outpatients per unit; total outpatients per year
- cataract operations per unit; total cataract operations per year
- cataract surgeons per unit; total cataract surgeons in the district per year
- proportion of intraocular lenses (IOLs) implanted per unit; total number of IOLs implanted per year
- other operations per unit; total number of other operations per year
- persons provided with spectacles per unit; total persons provided with spectacles per year
- number of people provided with low-vision care per unit; total number per year.

For trachoma, onchocerciasis and/or vitamin A deficiency, if applicable:
- total number of people treated for active trachoma per year
- total number of people operated for trichiasis per year
- total number of people treated with ivermectin per year
- whether a vitamin A supplementation or fortification programme is implemented
- number of children provided with vitamin A per unit; total per year.

Combining these figures with other data will provide the following indicators:
- the Cataract Surgical Rate (number of cataract operations per million population per year)
- average number of cataract operations per eye surgeon per year
- average number of cataract operations per eye unit per year
- utilization of staff and surgical units per year
- population per eye surgeon per year
- population per eye bed per year, etc.

A specially designed spreadsheet format to enter data related to cataract, refractive errors, trachoma and onchocerciasis, and to automatically calculate related indicators, is provided under “Templates”, “Planning spreadsheet”.

Open worksheet “Output” and enter the data for the area of concern. Data on human resources and infrastructure should be entered in the respective worksheets.

To complete this part of the situation analysis, identify constraints to output and propose possible actions to overcome them. Detailed analysis can be facilitated by the “Situation analysis” template, using one form for each disease intervention.

Checklist

Collect population data, general and health indicators.
Collect detailed maps of the area(s) of concern.
Collect output data from all partners in the district over the previous five years.
Collect indicators on coverage and outcome.
Calculate output and coverage indicators per year.
Indicate constraints to output and propose actions to overcome them.

Chapter 2 Situation analysis - Where are we now?

2.2 How to assess current and past output of eye-care services

Checklist

Documents

Articles

Population data

Templates