Hearing impairment and socioeconomic factors: a population-based survey of an urban locality in southern Brazil.
OBJECTIVE
To provide the first population-based data on deafness and hearing impairment in Brazil.


METHODS
In 2003, a cross-sectional household survey was conducted of 2,427 persons 4 years old and over. The study population was composed of 1,040 systematically chosen households in 40 randomly selected census tracts (dwelling clusters) in the city of Canoas, which is in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, in southern Brazil. Hearing function was evaluated in all subjects by both pure-tone audiometry and physical examination, using the World Health Organization Ear and Hearing Disorders Survey Protocol and definitions of hearing levels. The socioeconomic data that were gathered included the amount of schooling of all individuals tested and the income of the head of the household.


RESULTS
It was found that 26.1% of the population studied showed some level of hearing impairment, and 6.8% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 5.5%-8.1%) were classified in the disabling hearing impairment group. The prevalence of moderate hearing loss was 5.4% (95% CI = 4.4%-6.4%); for severe hearing loss, 1.2% (95% CI = 0.7%-1.7%); and for profound hearing loss, 0.2% (95% CI = 0.03%-0.33%). The groups at higher risk for hearing loss were men (odds ratio (OR) = 1.54; 95% CI = 1.06-2.23); participants 60 years of age and over (OR = 12.55; 95% CI = 8.38-18.79); those with fewer years of formal schooling (OR = 3.92; 95% CI = 2.14-7.16); and those with lower income (OR = 1.56; 95% CI = 1.06-2.27).


CONCLUSIONS
These results support advocacy by health policy planners and care providers for the prevention of deafness and hearing impairment. The findings could help build awareness in the community, in universities, and in government agencies of the health care needs that hearing problems create.
Béria
Jorge Umberto
JU
Graduate School of Public Health, Medical School, Lutheran University of Brazil, Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Raymann
Beatriz Carmen Warth
BC
Gigante
Luciana Petrucci
LP
Figueiredo
Andréia Cristina Leal
AC
Jotz
Geraldo
G
Roithman
Renato
R
Selaimen da Costa
Sady
S
Garcez
Vera
V
Scherer
Caroline
C
Smith
Andrew
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003638:Deafness / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004493:Education; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population; D014944:World Health Organization