Some associated factors in hearing loss among children aged 25 in kindergartensin Hai Duong Province, Vietnam

Abstract

Background: Hearing disorder in children is generally recognized as a public health issue. The associated factors of hearing loss in children continue to be unknown in Vietnam. The goal of this study was to analyse some associated factors of hearing loss among children aged 2–5 in selected kindergartens in Hai Duong Province, Vietnam, in 2018. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among children aged 2–5 years old at 4 kindergartens in Hai Duong Province, Vietnam. The researchers directly interviewed the children’s mothers at the kindergartens in order to collect information about prenatal, perinatal and postnatal factors. After that, children did the otoacoustic emission (OAE) test and completed by an auditory brainstem response (ABR) test for the positive diagnosis of hearing impairment. Results: The subjects of the study were 1,090 children aged 2–5 and their mothers at kindergartens in Hai Duong Province, Vietnam. The results revealed a variety of factors associated with hearing loss among these children, including maternal rubella (OR = 7.15; 95% CI: 1.51–26.19), severe jaundice (OR = 8.70; 95% CI: 2.64–28.95), prolonged oxygen use (OR = 12.90; 95% CI: 3.00–55.67) and chronic ear infections (OR = 9.81; 95% CI: 5.45–17.55). Conclusion: The study found that maternal rubella, severe jaundice, prolonged oxygen use and chronic ear infections were the associated factors of hearing loss among preschool children in Hai Duong Province, Vietnam. Children suffering from these factors should undergo the OAE and ABR tests to ensure early detection of hearing loss.