Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of eye care service utilisation and associated factors among healthcare professionals in Gondar city, northwest Ethiopia. DESIGN: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted using a systematic random sampling method. SETTING: The study was conducted at public healthcare facilities in Gondar city, orthwest Ethiopia. PARTICIPANTS: The study included 607 healthcare professionals who worked in public healthcare facilities in Gondar ity. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Data were collected using personal interview using a pretested and structured questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 607 study participants took part in this study with a response rate of 91.97%. The median age of the participants was 32 years (IQR 30-36; range ±6). The proportion of eye care services utilisation in this study was 27.68% (95% CI 24.11% to 31.25%). Being masters or higher degree educational status (adjusted OR (AOR)=4.81, 95% CI: 2.01, 11.46), having more than ten years of working experience in healthcare (AOR3.01, 95% CI: 1.51 to 5.99), being affiliated with general hospital (AOR 4.02, 95% CI 1.51 to 10.68) and specialised hospital (AOR 3.02, 95% CI 1.55 to 5.89), obtaining prior eye healthcare training (AOR 1.90, 95% CI 1.20 to 3.00) and having a higher monthly household income (AOR 3.59, 95% CI 1.89 to 6.81) were positively associated with eye care service utilisation. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that the proportion of eye care service utilisation among study participants was low. Holding a master or higher degree, more than 10 years of working experience in healthcare, affiliation with general or specialised healthcare facility, obtaining prior eye healthcare training and higher monthly household income were significantly associated with a good level of eye care service utilisation.