title: Services for the Detection and Treatment of Retinopathy of Prematurity in Major Indian Cities: The 11-City 9-State Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Control of visual loss from retinopathy of prematurity requires high quality neonatal care, and timely screening and treatment of sight-threatening disease. We assessed services for retinopathy of prematurity provided by ophthalmic training institutions in major Indian cities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven cities were purposefully selected and eye-care facilities were evaluated using predefined criteria. Field teams visited these facilities to collect data by interview and observation using structured questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  30 training institutions were visited (18 public; 12 not-for-profit); 24 (24/30, 80%) provided a service for retinopathy of prematurity in 58 neonatal units (30 public, 28 private). 15/24 (63%) screened in one unit; six (25%) in 2-3 units and three (12%) in >3 units. Not-for-profit facilities (n=9) screened in more units than public facilities (n=15)(mean (range) 4.5 [1-12] vs 1.1 [1-2] units). Indirect ophthalmoscopy by ophthalmologists was the commonest screening modality but only half of these visited the units weekly. Laser was the commonest treatment, but only half treated babies in the neonatal unit. Annual treatments ranged from 1-200 (mean 39).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Eye-care services for retinopathy of prematurity need to expand, particularly in the government sector.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK; #Indian Institute of Public Health, Hyderabad, Public Health Foundation of India; and $Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Correspondence to: Dr Clare Gilbert, International Centre for Eye Health, Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK. clare.gilbert@lshtm.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.forename: Rajan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shukla
authors.forename: Rakesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Ajay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khera
authors.forename: G Vs
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Murthy
mesh_terms: D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D017149:Private Sector; D017150:Public Sector; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014505:Urban Population