Risks included in retinopathy in premature neonates born at the Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia maternity

Abstract

In the Dominican Republic, premature births present a significant percentage, affecting the health of newborns, especially their vision. Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is a proliferative alteration of the blood vessels of the immature retina that affects newborns with very low birth weight and lower gestational age. The objective of this research was to determine the factors associated with ROP in premature neonates born at the Hospital Docente Universitario Maternidad Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia (HUMSA) between January and June 2023. The study, of quantitative paradigm and field type, used a questionnaire applied to 124 neonates intentionally selected from a population of 424. A descriptive observational design with prospective data collection was performed. Among the results, it was found that 70.2% of the neonates were between 33-36 weeks of gestation, 36.2% presented weights between 1500-2000 grams and the most frequent oxygenation time was 1-5 days in 37.9% of the cases. In conclusion, the most prevalent diagnosis was immature retina, present in 67.7% of the neonates studied, showing the need for early monitoring and care to reduce risks in this vulnerable population.