Infrastructure, Human Resource And Knowledge On Retinopathy Of Prematurity Among Health Care Takers Providing Pediatric Services In Referral Hospitals In Dar Es Salaam.
Published 2023 - 41st Congress of the ESCRS
Reference: OR01.06 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/ts28-bn19
Authors: Rosie Brennan 1 , Joshua Youze* 2
1ophthalmology,St Andrew's University,iverness,United Kingdom, 2ophthalmology,Benjamin Mkapa Hospital,Dodoma,Tanzania, United Republic of
Purpose
Advanced neonatal services with ineffective Retinopathy Of Prematurity (ROP) screening have led to an increased incidence of ROP in middle and low-income countries as compared to developed countries. Infrastructure, human resources and knowledge about ROP among pediatric care takers play an important role in preventing blindness related to ROP.
The purpose of this study was to assess knowledge among pediatric staffs, infrastructure and human resource for retinopathy of prematurity screening at the referral hospitals in Dar es Salaam.
Setting
This was a hospital based descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in five referral hospitals, with neonatal units in Dar es Salaam-Tanzania, from July to December 2020. The hospitals have a large number of neonates and pediatric staff, with both pediatric and ophthalmology departments that are operating. Dar Es Salaam is the largest city in the country with an estimated population of 4.4 million people, which is approximately 10% of the population of Tanzania.
Methods
One hundred eighty participants working in pediatric department were recruited from these hospitals. Quantitative data was collected using a questionnaire, and knowledge was assessed using a classification based on the score of the performance. The maximum possible score was 19. The level of knowledge was classified as follows, good (13-19), average (7-12) and poor (0-6). An observational checklist was used to check for the availability and working status of screening equipments. Data were entered into and analyzed using Statistical package for social science software (SPSS) version 20.
Results
Of the 180 health workers, 66 (36.7%) were male and 114 (63.3%) female. More than half 94 (52.2%) of participants had average knowledge, 59 (32.8%) had good knowledge and a small proportion 27 (15.0%) had poor knowledge about ROP. Only two hospitals had indirect ophthalmoscopes which were in good working condition. There were 17 ophthalmologists in total, with one hospital (MNH) having 11 (64.7%) of all the ophthalmologists in these referral hospitals.
Conclusions
The majority of the pediatricians, pediatric residents and medical officers had good knowledge about retinopathy of prematurity compared with nurses. Only one hospital was found to have all the required infrastructure for screening. Significant unequal distribution of ophthalmologists among referral hospitals can hinder the screening program.