PURPOSE: To describe the Ocular Health Campaign ("Olho no Olho" - 2000), as perceived by parents of schoolchildren who study at Alagoas State public schools, in the city of Maceió. METHODS: Questionnaires were applied to 263 parents of the school children, chosen at random from a group of 1996 children referred to attendance. Interviews were done between August and October 2001 in order to collect data and the opinions about the stages of the Campaign, ocular health and the social aspects of the parents. RESULTS: The parents of 263 children referred to appointment were interviewed, of which 89.35% were present at the appointment and 82.98% were accompanied by the interviewed parent; 82.13% of the examinations were performed through a special gratuitous work regimen in a school of the region; 73.85% considered satisfactory the information given about the prescription or non-prescription of glasses, at time of appointments. Glasses were prescribed for 47.23% of the children, of which 87.39% received the glasses; 65.77% of the interviewed parents stated that there was no delay in the delivery of the glasses; 69.07% stated that their child liked the received glasses and 79.38% of the children were wearing the glasses. The Campaign was approved by 91.64% of the interviewed parents; 69.96% were the children's mothers and 66.92% could read. The family income was up to R$ 300 in 71.86% of the interviewed parents; 15.59% of the interviewed wore glasses. Of the 10.65% of subjects who were not present at the appointment, 28.57% alleged lack of money for transportation. CONCLUSIONS: Good presence of children and their parents at examinations in the special gratuitous work regimen. The parents were satisfied with the Campaign. The production and delivery of glasses was accomplished with satisfactory results. The target population is destitute and they have a low educational level. We suggest that the families of the schoolchildren are better advised about ocular health and the prescription of glasses at the examination.
School health; Health education; Health promotion; Eye health; Visual tests; Visual acuity; School health services; Vision disorders; Vision disorders
