African Journal of Ophthalmology | 09 August 2010
Telehealth Impacts on Diabetic Retinopathy Screening in Urban Youth Slums of Nairobi: A Three-Year Assessment
O, s, c, a, r, M, b, u, r, u, M, u, t, u, a, ,, M, w, a, i, K, i, b, a, k, i, O, c, h, i, e, n, g, ,, J, o, s, e, p, h, K, i, r, e, W, a, n, y, a, m, a
Abstract
Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of vision loss among urban youth in Nairobi slums, where access to healthcare and diagnostic resources are limited. A mixed-methods approach including remote visual assessments via telehealth platforms, structured questionnaires on access barriers and health outcomes, and longitudinal follow-ups. Telehealth enabled the identification of diabetic retinopathy cases with an early detection rate of 85%, compared to a baseline of 60% in conventional screening methods. Telehealth significantly improved diabetic retinopathy screening coverage among urban youth slums, reducing diagnostic delays and enhancing patient access to care. Implement telehealth as a routine component of diabetic retinopathy surveillance programmes for urban youth slums, with further research on cost-effectiveness and scalability. Treatment effect was estimated with $\text{logit}(p<em>i)=\beta</em>0+\beta^\top X_i$, and uncertainty reported using confidence-interval based inference.