Atendimento oftalmológico de escolares do sistema público de ensino no município de São Paulo - Aspectos médico-sociais

Abstract

Purpose: To identify barriers in carrying out ophthalmologic evaluation of schoolchildren in a community project, aiming at improving plans for prevention and care of ophthalmologic diseases in the community. Research Design and Methods: Descriptive survey of 227 parents of students with ocular problems. The individuals were screened and interviewed during the "Veja Bem" project held at Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HCFMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil, 1998. Results: 77.1% of the subjects had not completed elementary school and 39.6% have a family income of less than U$ 230 per month. 48.0% of the students were males and 52.0% were females, 20.4% of ages of 8 and more; 67.8% of them were not previous ophthalmologic evaluation. Among the difficulties reported during the project were the lack of transportation (41.6%), lack of orientation (31.0%) and the loss of a working day (24.8%). The main reasons reported for not appearing at previous appointments were that the parents had not received adequate orientation (52.0%) and, again, the loss of a working day (19.4%). Conclusion: There were socioeconomic difficulties in carrying out ophthalmologic evaluation of schoolchildren in a community project. The solution or minimization of schoolchildren's ophthalmologic problems depends significantly on the joint efforts of schoolteachers, the family, and the community and health personnel.