![]() ![]() Only 52% of children from households with parents with less than high school level of education were screened, in comparison to 72% children from households where adults had a greater than high school level of education. Screening rates of children where family had private insurance was 72% compared to 58% where families were uninsured. Children from low-income household were less likely to receive vision screening (62% versus 72%). Screening rates varied by household income, insurance coverage, ethnicity and educational status of adults in the household. īased on estimates from National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) 2011–2012, The National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health Report 2016 states that nearly 83% of children between ages of 6 and 11 years had their vision tested within two years of the survey. ![]() According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) children from families with incomes below poverty level are less likely to see an eye care provider compared to children from families with incomes >200% of the federal poverty level (17% versus 23%), and children lacking health insurance have greater unmet vision needs compared to children with vision insurance (23% versus 5%). ![]() Nearly 50% of children from low-income families may have vision problems that interfere with their academic performance. In the case of vision problems, 1 in 5 school-age children have a condition identifiable by screening, and 80% of vision problems can be corrected with glasses. Students from low socio-economic backgrounds have higher levels of poor health and unmet health needs which could contribute to lower educational achievement and widen an academic achievement gap in relation to higher socioeconomic groups with better access to health care and prevention services. Evidence shows that healthier students are better learners. Student enrollment in public schools across the United States is expected to reach 51.7 million by fall of 2026, and according to recent estimates, 51% of students currently enrolled in public schools are from low-income families. School nurses can effectively increase medical care coordination and follow-up of vision screening in low-income communities. Teachers in schools with full-time nurses reported that follow-up of vision problems and getting glasses for students was the most beneficial activity performed by the nurses. Yet, only 67% of students screened in comparison schools were examined. In the final year, 96% of the students screened and referred for possible vision problems in schools with full-time nurses were followed up and examined by a health care provider. Secondly, we conducted a qualitative analysis of open-ended survey responses from 129 teachers in the nine participating schools. The intervention schools had around 2800 low-income, minority children each year, and the five comparison schools had around 3445. First, we compared descriptive screening follow-up data from the intervention schools with that of five matched schools with part-time nurses in San Jose, California, from 2008 to 2012. Here, we evaluate the impact of hiring full-time nurses in four underserved schools on the likelihood of increasing follow-up for treatment after vision screening. Screening is an effective way to detect visual impairments, although only if adequate follow-up is available. Approximately 20% of school-age children have a vision problem.
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