Abstract
BackgroundUniversal newborn hearing screening is now considered an essential public health care for the early detection of disabling life-long childhood hearing impairment globally. However, like any health interventions in early childhood, parental support and participation is essential for achieving satisfactory uptake of services. This study set out to determine maternal/infant socio-demographic factors associated with follow-up compliance in community-based infant hearing screening programmes in a developing country.MethodsAfter health educational/counselling sessions, infants attending routine childhood immunisation clinics at four primary care centres were enrolled into a two-stage infant hearing screening programme consisting of a first-stage screening with transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions and second-stage screening with automated auditory brainstem response. Infants referred after the second-stage screening were scheduled for diagnostic evaluation within three months. Maternal and infant factors associated with completion of the hearing screening protocol were determined with multivariable logistic regression analysis.ResultsNo mother declined participation during the study period. A total of 285 out of 2,003 eligible infants were referred after the first-stage screening out of which 148 (51.9%) did not return for the second-stage, while 32 (39.0%) of the 82 infants scheduled for diagnostic evaluation defaulted. Mothers who delivered outside hospitals were significantly more likely to return for follow-up screening than those who delivered in hospitals (Odds ratio: 1.62; 95% confidence intervals: 0.98 – 2.70; p = 0.062). No other factors correlated with follow-up compliance for screening and diagnostic services.ConclusionPlace of delivery was the only factor that correlated albeit marginally with infant hearing screening compliance in this population. The likely influence of issues such as the number of return visits for follow-up services, ineffective tracking system and the prevailing unfavourable cultural perception towards childhood deafness on non-compliance independently or through these factors warrant further investigation.
Highlights
Universal newborn hearing screening is considered an essential public health care for the early detection of disabling life-long childhood hearing impairment globally
Detection of infants with permanent congenital or early-onset hearing loss (PCEHL) is essential for optimal development of affected children in early childhood and this has resulted in an increasing implementation of universal infant hearing screening programmes worldwide [1,2,3,4,5]
While the possible effects of newborn hearing screening on maternal anxiety and parent-infant bonding have been debated [6,7], several studies in developed and developing countries have documented favourable views among majority of mothers on the need for early detection of PCEHL [4,810]
Summary
Universal newborn hearing screening is considered an essential public health care for the early detection of disabling life-long childhood hearing impairment globally. Detection of infants with permanent congenital or early-onset hearing loss (PCEHL) is essential for optimal development of affected children in early childhood and this has resulted in an increasing implementation of universal infant hearing screening programmes worldwide [1,2,3,4,5]. Such programmes require mothers to make informed choice about enrolling their children for the initial screening and for subsequent stages right up to diagnosis for those who failed the screening tests. Reliably estimating the incidence of this condition becomes difficult and this has implications for the planning and development of appropriate intervention services
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
