The Nudge
- The 4th Wheel
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
The Nudge Institute
Partner/Client
The Nudge Institute
Sector
Health
Location
Ri Bhoi District, Meghalaya
Key Highlights
The data collection exercise successfully covered 740 beneficiaries across 80 villages, exceeding planned targets while maintaining strong field quality.
The data collection found that 73.5% of participants were first-time eyeglass users, highlighting substantial unmet near-vision needs in rural communities.
Functional assessments conducted during data collection showed participants completed near-vision tasks faster and more efficiently after receiving reading glasses.
The data collection exercise recorded high programme acceptance, with 86.2% satisfaction and 84.1% of participants willing to recommend the intervention.
The exercise identified an important implementation gap, where strong participant satisfaction did not consistently translate into regular eyeglass usage.
Approach
The study adopted a retrospective mixed-method data collection approach, combining structured beneficiary surveys, functional task assessments, and frontline worker interviews.
A purposive proportional sampling strategy was used to cover programme beneficiaries across 80 villages in Umsning Block, Meghalaya.
Data collection included 740 beneficiary interviews, 48 ASHA interviews, and 61 CGHA interviews to capture participant experiences and implementation processes.
Standardised digital Kobo questionnaires and observed functional near-vision task assessments were used to generate quantitative and implementation-level evidence.
The exercise focused on assessing programme implementation, eyeglass adoption and usage, functional improvements, and participant experiences to support programme learning and future scale-up.
Insights and Findings
The programme reached a largely underserved population, with most beneficiaries being first-time eyeglass users who had previously struggled with near-vision tasks.
Functional task assessments showed that participants completed reading, grain sorting, and needle-threading activities faster and with greater ease after receiving reading glasses.
Most beneficiaries reported improved independence, confidence, and reduced reliance on family members while carrying out routine household and livelihood activities.
The intervention received strong community acceptance, reflected in high participant satisfaction and a willingness to recommend the programme to others.
The study identified opportunities to strengthen programme effectiveness through improved usage guidance, follow-up support, and more accurate screening for appropriate eyeglass power.
Recommendations / Value Addition
Strengthen post-distribution follow-up through regular counselling, usage reminders, and rescreening to encourage consistent use of reading glasses.
Improve screening accuracy and establish accessible replacement mechanisms to address discomfort, power mismatch, and damaged eyeglasses.
Refine community mobilisation strategies by scheduling outreach around local work patterns and strengthening communication on the quality and benefits of free eyeglasses.
