Childhood hearing loss; a need for primary health care.
BACKGROUND
Essential health care for children is the care of the ear.


METHODS
A cross-sectional descriptive study of 155 children with hearing loss.


RESULTS
A total of 155 pupils with hearing impairment and their parents were interviewed; 77(49.7%) males and 78(50.3%) females, age ranged from 6 to 15years (mean 9.11 ± 2.5 years). None of the participants had neonatal hearing screening. Parents detected the hearing loss at a mean age of 2.3 ± 1.1years. Initial care was given by community health workers and general medical practitioners, only 21 participants had otolaryngological consultation and none had audiological rehabilitation. Barriers to accessing services were financial constraints, poor awareness and non-availability of otolaryngological service for the hearing impaired in the communities.


CONCLUSIONS
Hearing impaired children in Nigeria have poor access to ear care. There is a need to create awareness of otological services and incorporate ear-care into the primary health care.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan and University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. Electronic address: segunkeyede@yahoo.com.
Segun Ayodeji
SA
Ogunkeyede
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.
Stephen Oluwatosin
SO
Adebola
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.
Abdulwasiu
A
Salman
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan and University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Akeem Olawale
AO
Lasisi
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003150:Community Health Workers; D012048:Correction of Hearing Impairment; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria; D010036:Otolaryngology; D010290:Parents; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012923:Social Class
Community health worker; Ear care; Hearing impairment; Nigeria; Primary health care