Family violence: A cause of sight threatening eye injuries in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Eye injuries cause significant ocular morbidity in general ophthalmic practice, and reports, suggest that majority of these injuries occur at home. Eye injuries within the home may result from accidental and non-accidental injury. While accidental ocular trauma is well recognized and often promptly reported, non-accidental ocular trauma may be harder to identify. Non-accidental domestic eye injuries often result from interpersonal violence within the home; otherwise known as " family violence". Corporal punishment, a common practice in the African setting, accounts for a significant number of non-accidental domestic eye injuries. Aim: This article seeks to draw attention to interpersonal violence within the home, as an important cause of avoidable ocular injuries and to sensitize physicians, to the need for multidisciplinary management and social intervention. Methods: This was a five-year review of eye injuries that occurred at home. Cases resulting from non-accidental injury inflicted by a relative or family member were included. Demographic data regarding the injured cases, and their assailants, was collected. Ocular presentation, presenting visual acuities, and final visual outcomes were analyzed. Results: One hundred thirty-eight eye injuries were reviewed. Of these, 57.2% (79/ 138) occurred at home. Interpersonal violence, accounted for 16 out of the 79 domestic eye injuries, comprising 5 males and 11 females. Nearly half (7/16) of the injuries, resulted from corporal punishment. Patients were aged 10-45 years (mean 23.8 years). Patients presented, on average, 5.5 days’ post-injury. Visual outcome was generally poor. Conclusion: Spousal and child abuse arc under recognized causes of eye injuries in the home.