Retinopathy of prematurity in neonatal care of Bolivia

Abstract

Objective: To know the status of retinopathy in preterm infants in 2018 and 2019 in NICUs of 10 cities of Bolivia.

Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study in 16 neonatal units in the country that recorded the type of services provided, equipment, health staff, survival rate of premature infants, diagnosis/treatment of ROP provided, training of ophthalmology staff. The percentage of children diagnosed with ROP was obtained to obtain a national median of ROP in the two approaches studied.

Results: There are Level III NICUs in all 9 departments, 50% provide complete neonatal services, only 3 cities meet the norm of 2 newborns per nurse in the NICU, none of the centers meet Level II units. 93% of the units have 1 NB/pulse oximeter, 62% have one oxygen mixing point per patient, 93% have 24-hour X-ray service and 100% have 24-hour blood gas service. The survival rate of premature infants under 1500 g is 68% in 2018 and 61% in 2019. The diagnostic range of ROP between Units is wide, the national median was 23. 7 for the 2018 management (range 7. 2 to 56) and the 2019 management, 20 (range 7. 5 to 56. 1). Less than half of the NICUs perform ROP screening, and only 20% of the ophthalmologists received specific ROP training. Diagnostic and treatment criteria are not standard.

Conclusions: NICUs in Bolivia are partially equipped but do not meet the required health staff standard, only half of the units have ROP screening programs, ophthalmologists are not trained specifically for the treatment, so the range of the percentage of diagnosis is very variable.