title: Prevalence of hearing loss in primary school children in Zimbabwe.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of significant hearing impairment in children attending primary school in the country of Zimbabwe.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study of the prevalence of hearing impairment in primary school children was undertaken as part of The Rotary Hearing Health Care Program in Zimbabwe. The sampling unit was primary schools in Manicaland, a province of Zimbabwe. All students in selected schools were screened. In total, 5528 students were screened for significant hearing impairment defined as greater than 30 dB HL at 1, 2 and 4 kHz in a quiet classroom.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 135 students (2.4%, 95% CI 2.0-2.8) were identified as having a hearing threshold of greater than 30 dB in at least one ear and for at least one of the test frequencies. A conductive hearing loss was found in 79 students, or 1.4% of the total, and a sensorineural hearing loss was found in 56 students or 1.0% of the total. Disabling hearing impairment was found in 0.9% of children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of hearing impairment in children in Zimbabwe is significant, even as a conservative measure amongst children attending school. Hearing impairment challenges the academic, career and social potential of young children. Regular screening, such as this could help target preventative measures that may improve the hearing impaired child's potential in terms of social interaction, academic achievement, and work opportunities.
authors.affiliation: Division of Otolaryngology, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Rotary Hearing Clinic, Providence 2, 1081 Burrard St., Vancouver, BC, Canada V6Z 1Y6. bwesterberg@providencehealth.bc.ca
authors.forename: Brian D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Westerberg
authors.forename: Danuta M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Skowronski
authors.forename: Irwin F
authors.initials: IF
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Lois
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bernauer
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mudarikwa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D015995:Prevalence; D012574:Schools; D015030:Zimbabwe / Q000453:epidemiology