Childhood hearing loss; a need for primary health care

Segun Ayodeji Ogunkeyede; Stephen Oluwatosin Adebola; Abdulwasiu Salman; Akeem Olawale Lasisi

doi:10.1016/j.ijporl.2017.01.013

Childhood hearing loss; a need for primary health care

Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2017 Mar:94:117-120. doi: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2017.01.013. Epub 2017 Jan 11.

Authors

Segun Ayodeji Ogunkeyede¹, Stephen Oluwatosin Adebola², Abdulwasiu Salman², Akeem Olawale Lasisi³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Otorhinolaryngology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan and University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. Electronic address: segunkeyede@yahoo.com.
² Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.
³ Department of Otorhinolaryngology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan and University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.

PMID: 28167001
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2017.01.013

Abstract

Introduction: Essential health care for children is the care of the ear.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study of 155 children with hearing loss.

Results: A total of 155 pupils with hearing impairment and their parents were interviewed; 77(49.7%) males and 78(50.3%) females, age ranged from 6 to 15years (mean 9.11 ± 2.5 years). None of the participants had neonatal hearing screening. Parents detected the hearing loss at a mean age of 2.3 ± 1.1years. Initial care was given by community health workers and general medical practitioners, only 21 participants had otolaryngological consultation and none had audiological rehabilitation. Barriers to accessing services were financial constraints, poor awareness and non-availability of otolaryngological service for the hearing impaired in the communities.

Conclusion: Hearing impaired children in Nigeria have poor access to ear care. There is a need to create awareness of otological services and incorporate ear-care into the primary health care.

Keywords: Community health worker; Ear care; Hearing impairment; Nigeria; Primary health care.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Child
Community Health Workers
Correction of Hearing Impairment*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
General Practitioners
Health Services Accessibility*
Hearing Loss / diagnosis
Hearing Loss / rehabilitation*
Hearing Tests
Humans
Male
Nigeria
Otolaryngology*
Parents
Primary Health Care*
Referral and Consultation*
Social Class