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Alemayehu Mekonnen Gezmu,1 Jemal Zeberga Shifa,2 Graham E Quinn,3 Oathokwa Nkomazana,4 Jinyo C Ngubula,5 Dipesalema Joel,1 Francis Msume Banda,1 Britt Nakstad1,6 1Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana; 2Department of Surgery Division of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana; 3Department Of Ophthalmology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; 4Faculty of Medicine, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana; 5Department of Clinical Services, Princess Marina Hospital, Ministry of Health and Wellness, Gaborone, Botswana; 6Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, NorwayCorrespondence: Alemayehu Mekonnen GezmuUniversity of Botswana, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Private Bag UB00713, Gaborone, BotswanaTel +26774063734Fax +2673105979Email gezmuam@ub.ac.bwBackground: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a widely recognized cause of blindness after preterm birth. The incidence of ROP is rising especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) because of improved neonatal care and increased survival of very premature neonates. To date, there is no data on incidence of ROP in Botswana.Objective: The purpose of this study was to provide initial data and determine ROP-associated risk factors from a single neonatal care center on the incidence of ROP in Gaborone, Botswana.Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted at Princess Marina Hospital (PMH) in Gaborone, Botswana. Premature neonates with birth weights (BW) of < 1,801 g or gestational age (GA) of < 34 weeks were enrolled in this study. Diagnostic examinations were conducted using an indirect ophthalmoscope with 28D lens. ROP findings were classified according to the most advanced stage of ROP reached using the International Classification of ROP (2005). Data were entered into STATA version 15 statistical software for analysis.Results: There were 264 premature infants enrolled in the study. ROP screening was performed on 200 (75.8%). Of all 264 enrolled patients 133 (50.4%) were female. The mean GA was 30.3± 2.6 (range 24– 37) weeks and the mean BW was 1302.2± 285.9 g (range 725– 2035). Out of 200 who were screened, we identified 22 with ROP with a ROP incidence of 11%. The incidence of type 1 ROP (sight-threatening) was found to be 3.5%. This study identified a significant difference in possible ROP risk factors between those infants who develop ROP and those who do not, eg, BW (p< 0.001), GA (p=0.024) and blood transfusion (p=0.001).Conclusion: This study demonstrates that ROP is a treatable cause of blindness in Botswana. Lack of a proper screening protocol, delay in diagnosis and management are plausible reasons for poor outcome in those who were diagnosed with type 1 ROP.Keywords: retinopathy of prematurity, gestational age, birth weight, type 1 ROP, type 2 ROP |
