Optometry & Visual Performance 143 Volume 14 | Issue 2 | June 2026 et al. found a strong association between corrected visual acuity and academic success among schoolaged children, where students with normal vision achieved significantly higher academic scores.17 The Vision for Baltimore initiative also linked vision correction through SBVS to improved classroom engagement and school attendance.7 Our study validates these claims and underlines the potential of SBVS to improve not only health but also education outcomes. A small proportion of respondents expressed skepticism or were unaware of these benefits. This suggests the presence of attitudinal barriers and underlines the importance of targeted stakeholder education. These attitudes could be influenced by cultural norms or misinformation, consistent with findings from a study that noted resistance to spectacle use among schoolchildren in parts of India due to social stigma and misconceptions.8 Table 4 identifies the most pressing challenges during SBVS implementation: insufficient resources and insufficient trained personnel. These findings mirror a study on mobile vision screening in Botswana, which emphasized the importance of equipping schools with both physical tools and adequately trained staff to deliver consistent and reliable screenings.5 Similarly, a study on the cost and budget impact analysis emphasized that sustainable funding and workforce development are essential for scalability in low-resource settings.6 Parental support was another challenge. The frequency is notably lower than anticipated, yet crucial, as parental involvement significantly affects program uptake and compliance with referrals. A study identified a lack of parental follow-through as a major bottleneck in Canada’s school-wide screening programs.15 Our findings align with this concern and suggest the need for structured communication between schools and parents, possibly through community health workers or parent-teacher associations. As seen in Table 5, recommended strategies for improving SBVS included increasing awareness, providing more resources, and engaging parents. These proposals reflect global best practices, such as those implemented in Cambodia and Ghana, where it was demonstrated that combining financial investments with education and parental engagement significantly improved SBVS participation.6 Similarly, a study concluded in their systematic review that integrating SBVS into broader school health policies and using cost-effective tools enhances both reach and impact.18 In summary, this study’s findings highlight systemic gaps in SBVS delivery in Egor LGA and offer a path forward through increased awareness, resource mobilization, and stakeholder education. When viewed alongside global data, our study adds valuable regional insight to the growing evidence base on the challenges and opportunities in school vision screening implementation. Study Limitation One limitation of this study is the low representation of parents among survey respondents, which limits insights into parental attitudes and barriers to SBVS. Possible reasons for this low participation include lack of awareness, socioeconomic constraints, cultural beliefs about Table 4. Challenges to Vision Screening Programmes Response Frequency Percent Lack of resources 122 41.9 Lack of trained personnel 84 28.9 Lack of parental support 32 11.0 Cultural barriers 9 3.1 All options 9 3.1 Options 1 & 2 14 4.8 Options 1 & 3 3 1.0 Options 1 & 4 1 0.3 Option 1, 3, & 4 1 0.3 Option 2, 3, 4 1 0.3 Option 1, 2, & 3 10 3.4 Option 3 & 4 1 0.3 Others (Lack of awareness) 1 0.3 No benefit 3 1.0 Table 5. Suggestions to Improve Participation Response Frequency Percent Increase awareness 102 35.1 Provide more resources 73 25.1 Involve parents 32 11.0 Use innovative screening tools 32 11.0 All options 20 6.9 Options 1 & 2 5 1.7 Options 1 & 3 3 1.0 Options 1 & 4 5 1.7 Option 1, 3, & 4 3 1.0 Option 2, 3, 4 3 1.0 Option 1, 2, & 3 11 3.7 Option 3 & 4 1 0.3 Options 2 & 3 2 0.7
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