P-57 The Role of Sex on Diabetic Eye Screening Practices in Jamaica
Author(s):
N Devireddy, TS Ferguson , M Tulloch-Reid
Year of Presentation:
2025
Objective: Diabetic retinopathy is an important complication of diabetes and regular screening for early detection
can reduce its impact on vision. Jamaican men have poorer
health seeking behavior and are less likely to be engaged
with the health system. We assessed whether sex was associated with diabetic eye screening practices in Jamaicans.
Methods: Participants from the 2016-17 Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey with diagnosed diabetes completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire collecting data on sociodemographic variables and medical history. Based on their response to a question about eye screening, participants with diagnosed diabetes were classified as “never screened” or “screened”. The effect of sex and other known sociodemographic confounders and medical history were explored using bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis.
Results: Data from 301 patients (23% M, 77% F) were analyzed. Approximately 66.5% (68% of men and 66% of women) had undergone screening. The proportion of the sample that ever had eye screening did not differ by education, employment status, food insecurity, access to public transportation, health insurance, and presence of disability. In bivariate logistic models, older persons were more likely to have ever had eye screening (OR [95%CI] per 5-year age difference = 1.1[1.00, 1.20]) while there was no difference by sex (OR [95%CI] = 0.93[0.52, 1.65]). The effect of sex remained unchanged in multivariable models even after adjusting for age and other confounders.
Conclusion: Sex was not associated with diabetic eye screening practices among Jamaican adults. Younger persons may need to be targeted for diabetic eye screening interventions.