title: Prevalence of hearing loss among primary school children in Mbarara, Uganda.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hearing loss in children is a common entity worldwide. We examined the prevalence and etiology of hearing loss among primary school children in Mbarara, Uganda.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study in primary school children aged 5-14 was performed to determine the prevalence of hearing loss. Ugandan primary school children were screened for disabling hearing loss (threshold >30dB) and confirmatory audiometry was performed on those who failed the screening.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 639 children screened. Thirty-five (5.5%) of children screened failed and were referred for further testing. Two children were lost to follow-up. The percentage of children with true hearing loss was 3.1%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of failed hearing screening and hearing loss in Mbarara, Uganda is similar to other populations. Hearing loss is a significant problem in Uganda and efforts should be made for primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention of hearing loss.
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University, Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, 7209 Medical Center East-South Tower, 1215 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37232-8605, USA. Electronic address: irving.z.basanez@vanderbilt.edu.
authors.forename: Irving
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Basañez
authors.affiliation: Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Department of ENT, PO Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda. Electronic address: daurynez@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Doreen
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nakku
authors.affiliation: Boys Town National Research Hospital, Department of Audiology, 555 North 30th St., Omaha, NE 68131, USA. Electronic address: susan.m.stangl@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stangl
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University, Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, 7209 Medical Center East-South Tower, 1215 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37232-8605, USA. Electronic address: george.wanna@vanderbilt.edu.
authors.forename: George B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Wanna
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001299:Audiometry; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D059012:Lost to Follow-Up; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012574:Schools; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Africa; Audiology; Hearing loss; Hearing screening; Schoolchildren; Uganda