As the world gears to observe World Prematurity Day on November 15th, a new study is highlighting a critical threat to the sight of premature infants in Kenya.
In line with this year’s World Prematurity Day theme ‘‘Small babies, big potential. Invest in follow-up care to protect their future!’’, the research calls for urgent action to prevent a surge in blindness caused by Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP).
According to this study carried out by a team of researchers from the University of Nairobi, ROP is a serious retinal condition affecting premature babies. Since there is a narrow window for effective treatment, timely screening is paramount to combat this condition.
The study, titled ‘‘An assessment of health care workers' knowledge, attitude and practice on retinopathy of prematurity at selected newborn units in Nairobi County, which was conducted across three major facilities: Pumwani Maternity Hospital, Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), and Mater Misericordiae, reveals a stark disparity: while high-income nations have reduced ROP through refined screening protocols, middle-income countries (MIC) like Kenya are facing a ‘‘third epidemic.’’ As neonatal care improves and more preterm infants survive, the lack of more preterm infants survive, the lack of specialized follow-up care has left many at risk.
The study notes that while modern equipment is more available in Nairobi, the standard of neonatal care and specialized training often lags behind. In some urban Kenyan settings, ROP prevalence has reached as high as 40%, a figure that mirrors the most affected middle-income regions globally.
The findings emphasize that preventing blindness requires more than just monitoring, it requires specialized medical oversight. The study recommends that all hospitals managing premature infants must have an ophthalmologist available for regular ROP screenings.
Furthermore, there is a vital need to raise the level of awareness among all healthcare workers through continuous medical education and specialized training.
Since ROP is multifactorial condition driven by risks such as mechanical ventilation, sepsis, and prolonged hospital stays-the knowledge and practice of health workers involved in management of premature infants are vital. Improving their ability to identify at-risk neonates will ensure timely referrals, timely diagnosis, and ultimately, the protection of a child's future sight.
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