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Navigating Life with Visual Impairment in Nigeria: A Narrative Review of Challenges and Opportunities

Timothy Olatunji OLADOSU

Abstract

Introduction: Visual impairment remains a major public health and social challenge globally, with a disproportionate burden in low- and middle-income countries such as Nigeria. Beyond clinical consequences, visual impairment significantly affects education, employment, mobility, psychosocial wellbeing, and social participation. Although Nigerian and African studies have explored aspects of visual impairment, existing evidence remains fragmented across disciplines, limiting comprehensive understanding and policy translation. This narrative review synthesizes existing literature on the multidimensional challenges faced by people living with visual impairment in Nigeria, with the aim of providing a contextualised understanding of their lived experiences and informing inclusive policy and practice. Methodology: A narrative review design was employed to integrate heterogeneous evidence across health, social, educational, economic, and policy domains. Literature searches were conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, African Journals Online, and Google Scholar. Eligible studies included quantitative, qualitative, and policy-oriented publications reporting Nigerian-specific findings. A thematic narrative synthesis was undertaken. Results: The review identified interconnected challenges, including limited access to eye care and rehabilitation services, educational exclusion, unemployment and economic marginalisation, pervasive stigma and discrimination, mobility and infrastructural barriers, and gaps between disability policy commitments and implementation. These challenges were largely driven by structural, environmental, and attitudinal factors. Conclusion: Visual impairment in Nigeria constitutes a complex social and developmental issue. Consistent with the social model of disability, disadvantage arises primarily from systemic barriers rather than impairment alone. Addressing these challenges requires coordinated, multisectoral strategies that integrate eye h

Keywords

Visual impairment; disability; social inclusion; Nigeria; narrative review

References

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