The estimated population of Sabah is around 3.4 million (35 persons per sq km) and the socio-economic status is very much lower as compared to Peninsular Malaysia. An estimated of 52% of population reside in the rural areas. The rural population has poor accessibility to health care facilities due to poor infrastructure, patients' ignorance on health issues.
Based on the National Eye Survey 1996 which was released in 2000, the state of Sabah has the highest prevalence of visual impairment and blindness in the country.
Based on the National Eye Survey 1996 which was released in 2000, the state of Sabah has the highest prevalence of visual impairment and blindness in the country.
The overall adjusted prevalence for the country/ Sabah state is as follows:
- Prevalence ofvisual impairment 2.73%/ 4.28%
- Prevalence of blindness 0.29%/ 0.78%
- Prevalence of Low Vision 2.44%/ 3.51%
- Prevalence of Refractive Error 1.19%/ 2.47%
- Prevalence of Untreated cataract 2.2%/ 2.99%
- Prevalence of Glaucoma 0.05%
It was found that the main cause of severe visual impairment was refractive error accounting for 43%, followed by cataract at 40.5%. Among the blind individuals, 45% was attributed to cataract. Both cataract and refractive error contribute to an alarming figure of 80% as the cause of visual impairment.
Sabah has the highest incidence of poverty (1990 estimate)
Selangor/ Federal Territory <10%
Sabah 34%
Sarawak 21%
Sabah has the lowest percentage of accessibility to electricity
Peninsular Malaysia 82%
Sabah 47%
Sarawak 50%
Health care accessibility (within 5 km to rural clinics)
Peninsular Malaysia 71%
Sabah 35%
Sarawak 20%
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