WE-ZACE

This study explores the eye health needs, lived experiences, and perspectives of older Zanzibari craftswomen in relation to vision, work, and empowerment. Using participatory workshops and qualitative methods, the research developed a theory of change map outlining how improved eye health may influence economic participation, confidence, social inclusion, and wellbeing among older women. The findings informed the design of a women-targeted eye care and empowerment programme that is grounded in local realities, community voices, and the social context of ageing and gender in Zanzibar.

This cross-sectional study examined the prevalence of refractive error, unmet eye care needs, and attitudes towards spectacle wearing among older craftswomen in Zanzibar. The findings revealed a high burden of uncorrected presbyopia and limited access to affordable and acceptable eye care services, despite participants relying heavily on near vision for craftwork and income generation. The study highlights the importance of designing women-targeted eye care services that are culturally appropriate, accessible, and responsive to the realities of older women’s lives in low-resource settings.

This qualitative study explores how older Zanzibari craftswomen perceive the impact of near-vision spectacle correction on their daily lives and sense of empowerment. Participants described improvements in their ability to perform detailed craftwork, generate income, maintain independence, and participate more confidently in social and economic activities. The findings suggest that a simple pair of reading spectacles may have effects that extend far beyond vision correction, influencing dignity, self-worth, and women’s roles within their families and communities.

This participatory action research study compares electronic and paper-based data collection methods during health research fieldwork in Zanzibar. The study explored the experiences and perspectives of fieldworkers and researchers, examining issues such as efficiency, data quality, usability, training needs, and logistical challenges. The findings highlight the potential advantages of electronic data collection in low-resource settings, while also emphasising the importance of local context, infrastructure, and user confidence when implementing digital research tools.

Subjective Wellbeing, Work Performance and Lived Experience of Zanzibari Women Entrepreneurs with Uncorrected Functional Presbyopia: A Pre-Post Mixed-Methods Study

This before-and-after mixed-methods study explored whether correcting near vision impairment could influence empowerment among older Zanzibari craftswomen. Following spectacle correction, participants reported improvements in craft productivity, income-generating activities, confidence, social participation, and independence in daily life. The study highlights how a simple eye health intervention may contribute to broader dimensions of empowerment and wellbeing among older women in low-resource settings.

This narrative study explores how presbyopia correction influences psychological empowerment among older women and men in Zanzibar. Participants described changes in confidence, self-esteem, independence, motivation, and their sense of value within family and community life following near vision correction. The findings demonstrate that the benefits of presbyopia services extend beyond functional vision, highlighting the emotional and psychosocial importance of accessible eye care in later life.

This participatory action research study explores the lived experiences of Zanzibari craftswomen following eyeglass use, focusing on how improved near vision influenced their work, businesses, and everyday lives. Using solicited diaries and listening workshops, participants reflected on challenges related to productivity, ageing, financial pressures, customer expectations, and sustaining small businesses within changing social and economic environments. The study highlights the value of participatory and narrative-based approaches in understanding how eye health interventions interact with women’s economic resilience, agency, and problem-solving strategies.

This study evaluates the changes in subjective wellbeing following a woman-targeted presbyopia correction programme among older craftswomen in Zanzibar and examines the associated programme costs. The analysis combines wellbeing outcomes with cost and scenario modelling to explore the potential value and scalability of targeted presbyopia services in low-resource settings. The findings suggest that relatively low-cost near vision interventions may generate meaningful improvements in wellbeing, productivity, and daily functioning among older women.