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Impact of a ROP mentoring program in rural regions of Colombia

Claudia Zuluaga-Botero1, Jose Maria Solano2, Carolina Serrano-Calderon3

  • 1Departament of Pediatric Opthalmology, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia.

Journal of AAPOS : the Official Publication of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
|September 20, 2024
PubMed

Insights

A retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) mentoring program significantly improved screening and treatment in rural Colombian neonatal units. The initiative increased ROP service availability and screening coverage for preterm infants.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Ophthalmology
  • Public Health Interventions
  • Healthcare Access in Rural Settings

Background:

  • Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of blindness in premature infants.
  • Access to specialized neonatal eye care, including ROP screening and treatment, is often limited in rural and underserved regions.
  • Effective strategies are needed to expand ROP services to improve outcomes for vulnerable preterm newborns.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of a retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) mentoring program on ROP services in rural Colombia.
  • To assess changes in ROP screening coverage and treatment rates among eligible preterm infants.
  • To determine the program's effect on the capacity of neonatal units to manage ROP.

Main Methods:

  • A longitudinal study assessed 31 neonatal units across four rural regions in Colombia from 2011 to 2019.
  • Key indicators included screening coverage, proportion of infants with ROP, and treatment rates, using national data and ophthalmologist-reported data.
  • Trends were analyzed using linear-by-linear statistics to compare pre-mentoring and during-mentoring periods.

Main Results:

  • The number of neonatal units offering ROP services surged from 7 (23%) to 26 (84%) post-mentoring.
  • Screening coverage for eligible preterm infants rose from 14% to 41%, while the proportion treated decreased from 9% to 3%.
  • Treatment rates declined significantly, with no infants above 2000g birth weight or 36 weeks gestational age treated by year 3.

Conclusions:

  • Mentoring rural healthcare providers is an effective strategy for establishing new ROP screening programs.
  • The program successfully increased screening coverage and enhanced local capabilities for neonatal care and ROP management.
  • This approach demonstrates value in improving access to essential ROP services in resource-limited settings.
Abstract

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