Abstract
Newborn hearing screening programs identifies newborns with hearing loss. The early identification enables prompt intervention through hearing rehabilitation. Accurate knowledge of the program and its benefit will impact on the uptake of the program by the citizenry. We hypothesized that there is a gap in the knowledge of parents on hearing screening and rehabilitation measures in Nigeria. To determine the knowledge and perceptions of mothers of newborn children on hearing screening. A cross sectional observational study among mothers of newborn children at immunization clinics. Semi structured questionnaire on gestational duration, mode of delivery, birth asphyxia, knowledge on hearing loss and newborn hearing screening were administered. Participants were 48 mothers with age range from 18 to 42 years. Awareness of newborn hearing screening was poor among the mothers; sources of information on newborn hearing screening were antenatal clinic, mass media and friends. The educational level of the participants had no association with awareness (p = 0.11), but the willingness to accept newborn hearing screening, was associated with socioeconomic status (p = 0.04) and the level of education (p = 0.02). The participants were not aware of factors responsible for hearing loss in childhood. There is inadequate knowledge about newborn hearing screening and risk factors for infant hearing loss among the mothers, though they demonstrate willingness to accept the newborn hearing screening. None declared.
Highlights
Universal Newborn Hearing Screening facilitates early detection of sensorineural hearing loss, a prevalent form of sensory disability during childhood.[1,2] Sensorineural hearing loss occurs in 1 – 3 per 1,000 live births in term healthy neonates, and 2 – 4 per 100 in high-risk infants.[3,4] Factors responsible for hearing loss in newborn may be biological, environmental, congenital or perinatal in nature
This study explored the perspectives of mothers on Newborn hearing screening (NHS) in Nigeria
The 48 mothers interviewed in this study, delivered their children in tertiary and secondary health care units at term
Summary
Universal Newborn Hearing Screening facilitates early detection of sensorineural hearing loss, a prevalent form of sensory disability during childhood.[1,2] Sensorineural hearing loss occurs in 1 – 3 per 1,000 live births in term healthy neonates, and 2 – 4 per 100 in high-risk infants.[3,4] Factors responsible for hearing loss in newborn may be biological, environmental, congenital or perinatal in nature. Low birth weight, asphyxia, neonatal intensive care unit admission, parental consanguinity, inherited syndromes, congenital infections and postnatal infections.[5] Hearing loss in infancy is often permanent and disabling, affecting speech and language development, cognitive function, intellect, cultural, emotional and socioeconomic development.[6,7]. Avoidance of these consequences requires identification of hearing loss in infants at the earliest opportunity[8] and early commencement of rehabilitative measures. Prompt diagnosis through newborn hearing screening and proper rehabilitative measures will improve long-term outcomes.[11]
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