Evaluation of socioeconomic profile, professional training and health status of people with visual impairment

Abstract Objective: To verify the socioeconomic aspects, the professional formation, the educational level and the state of health of people with visual deficiency. Methods: This is a cross-sectional and descriptive study with the participation of 33 people with visual impairment attended at a Specialized Institution for this deficiency in the city of Uberaba-MG, 16 with low vision and 17 with blindness. Socioeconomic aspects were evaluated through the Brazilian Economic Classification Criteria (CCEB), professional training and health status were verified by completing a structured form. Results: The age group was 47.3 years (± 17.2 years), with a prevalence of female (57.5%) and white (51.5%). In relation to professional training, 50% of the individuals with low vision and 52.9% with blindness are retired people; and schooling was 8 years of study for both groups. In the health condition 31.2% of the participants of low vision presented retinitis pigmentosa, and 23.5% of participants with blindness had glaucoma. In both groups, most individuals did not have any associated comorbidities. According to CCEB for the low vision group, the mean of the total score was 18.4 points and for the blind group was 18.1; culminating in the C1 classification of the socioeconomic level. Conclusion: The profile of the people in the study showed reasonable situations of schooling, presence of white and single individuals with economically active age, with retirement benefits and low economic class.