Objective  To understand the prevalence of myopia and its influencing factors in primary and secondary school students in Baotou and provide evidence for the development of myopia prevention and control strategies and targeted intervention measures.

  Methods  A stratified cluster sampling method was used to select 8591 primary and secondary school students in Baotou to conduct the survey. The current myopia prevalence in Baotou students was analyzed by using descriptive epidemiological methods, and the risk factors and protective factors were identified using multivariate Logistic regression analysis.

  Results  The overall prevalence rate of myopia in students in Baotou was 73.1%, and the prevalence rate was 57.6% in primary school students, 77.1% in junior high school students and 87.2% in senior high school students. The univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses showed that being girl, higher grade and out-of-school eye use (reading and writing for more than 2 hours a day averagely in a week, attending tutoring classes, attending tutoring classes for more than 2 hours in a week); short distance eye use (watching electronic screens for more than 2 hours, often or always watching electronic screens without turning on light in the evening, often lying on back or stomach to read book or watch computer screen, and reading books or watching electronic screens while walking or riding frequently, using eyes at short distance for more than 50 minutes); incorrect reading and writing posture, no correct reading and writing posture advice from teachers; less time spent outdoors during daytime and poor sleep were risk factors for myopia. Living in suburban area, adjusting the height of desks and chairs once a school year, doing eye exercises at school more than twice a day and outdoor break were protective factors for myopia.

  Conclusion  It is necessary to make joint efforts by local government, families, schools and medical institutions to reduce the prevalence of myopia in students.