Retinopathy of prematurity at the University and Departmental Hospital of Borgou-Alibori in 2019

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Retinopathy of prematurity is one of the leading causes of childhood blindness, which extent should be known in Benin and especially in Parakou. Aim: To study the retinopathy of prematurity in the University Hospital of Borgou-Alibori in 2019. Methods: It was a cross-section, descriptive and analytical study with prospective data collection, over a period of 6 months, from April 2019 to September 2019 including all premature regardless of birth weight, having received or not oxygen and having at least 04 weeks of postnatal life. They were listed exhaustively after informed consent of the parents. Results: Out of a total of 68 identified premature newborn, 36 had been undergone a fundus examination between the 04th and 06th week of postnatal life. The overall frequency of retinopathy of prematurity was 27.78%. The majority of abnormalities were stage 1 and Area 3 in temporal and were found more among males than in females. The oxygen therapy time (p = 0.026), gestational age (p = 0.0003), low birth weight (p = 0.026), the intraventricular hemorrhage (p = 0.015) and the red cell transfusion (p = 0.015) were significantly factors associated with retinopathy of prematurity. Conclusion: The frequency of retinopathy of prematurity in CHUD-B/A at Parakou is relatively high. It would be wise to educate health professionals for a systematic proposal of a fundus examination in all premature infants that may allow to make an early diagnosis of this disease.