Lusobya Rebecca Claire, Atukunda Immaculate, Semulimi Andrew Weil, Nalukenge Carol, Kalinaki Abubaker, Denis Erima, Nyanzi Mary, Batte Charles, Mukunya David, Mukisa John, Otiti-Sengeri Juliet, Wabulembo Geoffrey
Department of Ophthalmology School of Medicine College of Health Sciences Makerere University Kampala Uganda.
Lung Institute Department of Medicine School of Medicine College of Health Sciences Makerere University Kampala Uganda.
Public Health Chall. 2024 Jul 2;3(3):e208. doi: 10.1002/puh2.208. eCollection 2024 Sep.
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a significant global issue and a leading cause of preventable childhood blindness. Early screening and timely management of preterm babies at risk are crucial. To effectively implement this strategy, it is essential that caregivers and health workers are well-informed about ROP. This study plays a vital role in assessing the knowledge, attitudes and practices of caregivers and healthcare workers towards ROP in Uganda, providing valuable insights into the current understanding and approach towards this condition.
We conducted a sequential explanatory mixed-methods study, involving 214 participants. This group included 12 paediatricians, 56 neonatal nurses and 146 caregivers, all of whom play crucial roles in the healthcare system. The study was conducted at two tertiary hospital neonatal clinics in Uganda. A researcher-administered structured questionnaire was used to collect the data on the participants' knowledge, attitudes and practices. Descriptive statistics were used to describe variables, while qualitative data were analysed using thematic content analysis.
We recruited 146 caregivers with a mean age of 29.4 (±standard deviation 6.5) years, 12 paediatricians with a median age of 37 years (IQR: 36-41) and 56 nurses with a median age of 35 years (30-42). The median working duration of health workers at the neonatal unit was 3 (IQR: 1.8-4.2) years. Thirty-two (21.92%) caregivers and 28 (49.12%) health workers had good knowledge about ROP, whereas 9 nurses and 2 paediatricians did not know about ROP. Barriers to ROP screening included limited resources (equipment, time and skilled personnel) and limited parental involvement. Enhancing collaboration among medical care teams has the potential to improve ROP screening.
Insufficient knowledge about ROP among caregivers calls for increased efforts to educate and sensitise them about ROP and its risk factors.
早产儿视网膜病变（ROP）是一个重大的全球性问题，也是儿童可预防性失明的主要原因。对有风险的早产儿进行早期筛查和及时管理至关重要。为有效实施这一策略，护理人员和卫生工作者充分了解ROP至关重要。本研究在评估乌干达护理人员和医护人员对ROP的知识、态度和做法方面发挥着至关重要的作用，为当前对这种疾病的理解和应对方法提供了宝贵的见解。
我们进行了一项顺序解释性混合方法研究，涉及214名参与者。该组包括12名儿科医生、56名新生儿护士和146名护理人员，他们在医疗系统中都发挥着关键作用。该研究在乌干达的两家三级医院新生儿诊所进行。使用研究人员管理的结构化问卷收集参与者关于知识、态度和做法的数据。描述性统计用于描述变量，定性数据则使用主题内容分析法进行分析。
我们招募了146名护理人员，平均年龄为29.4（±标准差6.5）岁，12名儿科医生，年龄中位数为37岁（四分位间距：36 - 41），56名护士，年龄中位数为35岁（30 - 42）。新生儿科卫生工作者的工作时长中位数为3年（四分位间距：1.8 - 4.2）。32名（21.92%）护理人员和28名（49.12%）卫生工作者对ROP有良好的了解，而9名护士和2名儿科医生不了解ROP。ROP筛查的障碍包括资源有限（设备、时间和技术人员）以及家长参与度有限。加强医疗团队之间的合作有可能改善ROP筛查。
护理人员对ROP的了解不足，需要加大力度对他们进行有关ROP及其风险因素的教育并提高其认识。
