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Updated: Apr 7, 2026
Biochemical Measurement of Neonatal Hypoxia
Published on: August 24, 2011
Limitations in ROP Programs in 32 Neonatal Intensive Care Units in Five States in Mexico
L Consuelo Zepeda-Romero1, Clare Gilbert2
1Clinic of Retinopathy of Prematurity, Hospital Civil de Guadalajara, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, 44280 Guadalajara, JAL, Mexico.
Insights
Many neonatal intensive care units in Mexico lack adequate retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) programs, despite legal mandates. Improving ROP screening and treatment is crucial to prevent childhood blindness.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neonatology
- Public Health
Background:
- Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of preventable childhood blindness in Mexico.
- National guidelines and legal requirements exist for ROP screening in preterm infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the implementation and adherence to national guidelines for ROP programs in Mexican neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).
Main Methods:
- A survey was conducted across 32 NICUs in five major Mexican states.
- Staff interviews were used to assess ROP program compliance with national screening and treatment guidelines.
Main Results:
- Only 31.2% of NICUs had fully compliant ROP programs.
- 34.4% of NICUs had no ROP program, and the remainder used non-compliant approaches.
- Poorer states exhibited significantly weaker ROP program compliance.
Conclusions:
- Despite legal mandates, many ROP programs in Mexico require significant improvement or establishment.
- Prioritizing ROP prevention is essential to combat the rising epidemic of ROP-related blindness.
Unlabelled:
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is the main cause of avoidable blindness in children in Mexico despite National ROP Guidelines and examination of preterm infants being a legal requirement.
Objective:
To assess coverage of ROP programs and their compliance with national guidelines.
Study Design:
Thirty-two neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in five of the largest states were visited. Staff were interviewed to collect information on their ROP programs which were defined as (1) compliant, if National Guidelines for screening and treatment were followed, (2) noncompliant, if other approaches were used, or (3) no program.
Results:
Only 10 (31.2%) had fully compliant programs and 11 (34.4%) had no program. In the remaining 11 (34.4%) different screening criteria were used (7 units): screening was undertaken by an ophthalmologist in unsalaried time (4), was not undertaken in the NICU (2), and was undertaken by a neonatologist (1) and/or Avastin was used as first-line treatment (7). Poorer states had poorer programs.
Conclusions:
Despite legislation mandating eye examination of preterm births, many ROP programs in the largest cities in Mexico require improvement or need to be established. Prevention of blindness due to ROP needs to be prioritized in Mexico to control the epidemic of ROP blindness.
