Abstract:AIM: To evaluate the pooled magnitude of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) among infants’ populations in East Africa. METHODS: A literature search was conducted using PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Scopus, and African Journals Online to identify studies from East African published up to August 2025 that reported the magnitude of ROP and its associated factors. The quality of the included cohort and cross-sectional studies was assessed using a modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. A random-effects Meta-analysis was used to estimate the pooled magnitude of ROP and adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for associated factors, with results presented using 95% confidence intervals (CI). Heterogeneity among studies was assessed using the I² statistic, and subgroup analysis and meta-regression were performed to explore its sources. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plots and Egger’s regression test. RESULTS: A total of 11 studies were included. The pooled magnitude of ROP in East Africa was 18% (95%CI: 13%–24%, I2=95.77%). The Meta-analysis result showed that infants who received oxygen therapy (pooled OR=4.61, 95%CI: 1.88–7.33), neonates with birth weight less than 1500 g (pooled OR=5.82, 95%CI: 2.89–8.75), and respiratory distress syndrome (pooled OR=3.92, 95%CI: 2.54–5.29) were factors associated with ROP. CONCLUSION: ROP is a significant public health concern in East Africa, affecting nearly one in five preterm infants. Policymakers and healthcare providers should prioritize evidence-based interventions targeting the prevention and early detection of ROP to mitigate its long-term impact on childhood blindness.
