title: [Prevalence of self-reported hearing loss and attributed causes: a population-based study].
abstract: The objective was to determine the prevalence of self-reported hearing loss in four urban areas in São Paulo State, Brazil, and to describe the causes and socio-demographic variables. This was a population-based cross-sectional study with data on individuals 12 years or older living in the areas in 2001 and 2002. Participation included 5,250 subjects selected by two-stage probability sampling, stratified in clusters. Data analysis was exploratory, including bivariate and multiple logistic regression analysis. Prevalence of hearing loss was 5.21%, and higher levels were associated with: age > 59 years (18.7%), illness in the 15 days prior to the interview (8.4%), common mental disorders (8.8%), and use of medication in the previous 3 days (8.4%). The study of factors associated with hearing loss can lead to health interventions for addressing that the population's real needs, mostly in primary care. More population-based studies on hearing are needed in Brazil, since there are few publications on the subject.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Saúde Pública, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, Brasil. msodario@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Mariana Sodário
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: Luiz Roberto de
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Luana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carandina
authors.forename: Maria Cristina Pereira
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Chester Luis Galvão
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: César
authors.forename: Marilisa Berti de Azevedo
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Barros
authors.forename: Maria Cecilia Goi Porto
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Moises
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goldbaum
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012649:Self Concept; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult