Retinopathy of Prematurity in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria: An Early Report of a Screening Service

BACKGROUND: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is an important cause of childhood blindness worldwide. This blindness is avoidable through regular screening of preterm infants and prompt intervention for those with the condition. AIMS/OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the pattern of presentation of ROP and the risk factors for its development among preterm infants in the Neonatal Unit of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria. DESIGN OF STUDY: This study is a prospective, longitudinal study. SETTINGS: The study was carried out in the Special Care Baby Unit, Sick Baby Unit, and Neonatal Clinic of the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All preterm infants whose mothers had given informed consent to participate were enrolled. Ocular examination was performed by a trained ophthalmologist. ROP was staged and documented using the revised version of the International Classification of ROP. Data were entered into a questionnaire and analysed using IBM SPSS version 22. RESULTS: Of the 53 neonates recruited into the study, ROP was detected in 11 (21%) neonates, of which 9 (82%) had stage 1 disease, 2 (18%) had stage 2, and none had stage 3. ROP was more common in females, 7 (63.6%), than their male counterparts 4 (36.4%). ROP was higher among those with gestational age (GA) ≤30 weeks [9 (81.8%)] when compared with those with GA >30 weeks [2 (18.2%)] (P = 0.016). Other risk factors for ROP assessed by this study were found not to be significantly associated with the occurrence of ROP. CONCLUSION: ROP was present in 21% of the neonates, and the majority had stage 1 disease. This finding emphasizes the need for screening of all preterm neonates for ROP in order to forestall avoidable blindness which could result from this condition.