Improving access to eye care services in Ghana using community health structures

Background: To improve access to appropriate eye health care services within the community health structures in Ghana, pre- and post-intervention studies were carried out to explore the feasibility of integrating primary eye health into the community health planning services programme. Aim: To explore the feasibility, accessibility and acceptability of integrating primary eye health care into community health planning services. Setting: The study was carried out in the Northern, Western and Eastern regions of Ghana. Methods: A pre- and post-intervention multi-stage cluster randomised design based on two separate cross-sectional surveys with both quantitative and qualitative research techniques were used. The magnitude of change in the dependent variables for the intervention group was compared with those for the comparison group at baseline and endline using a difference-in-difference analysis. Results: The intervention communities were more likely to visit a community health facility with their eye problems. Improved access to eye care medicines reduced the use of herbal preparations to treat eye disease. Conclusion: Integrating primary eye care (PEC) into community health planning service (CHPS) was associated with greater utilisation of community health facilities for eye health care services. Contribution: The results of this study should facilitate the implementation of the vision for everyone integrated into universal health coverage.