Barriers to Spectacle Use Among Rural Dwellers in Plateau State: A Community-Based Survey

Despite the proven cost-effectiveness of spectacle correction for refractive errors, uptake remains remarkably low in rural Nigerian communities. This study identifies and analyses barriers to spectacle use among rural dwellers in Plateau State, North Central Nigeria. A community-based descriptive cross-sectional survey will be conducted across four rural communities in Barkin Ladi and Shendam local government areas. Using systematic random sampling, 500 adults aged 18 years and above who have been previously identified as requiring spectacle correction will be recruited. Data will be collected through interviewer-administered questionnaires examining financial, cultural, geographic, and attitudinal barriers. Thematic analysis will complement quantitative frequency distributions to contextualise barriers within local belief systems. Key barriers identified in comparable rural studies include high cost of spectacles, perceived social stigma, limited access to optical services, and reliance on traditional healers for eye problems. This study deepens understanding of how these barriers operate uniquely in Plateau State's predominantly farming communities, where prolonged outdoor activity and low health literacy intersect. Findings will provide actionable recommendations for mobile eye care outreach programmes and subsidised spectacle distribution schemes backed by government and non-governmental organisations. Strengthening the supply chain for affordable, locally appropriate spectacles, alongside targeted community sensitisation, is integral to eliminating avoidable refractive error-related visual impairment in Nigeria's rural North Central zone. Keywords: spectacle uptake, refractive error, barriers, rural communities, Plateau State