ABSTRACT
Background: Unavailability of healthcare resources can lead to poor patient outcomes. The latter is true for infants with hearing loss and require early hearing detection and intervention (EHDI). Aim: To determine the availability and distribution of resources for EHDI in state hospitals in the Eastern Cape (EC) province, South Africa. Setting: Sixteen state hospitals (nine district, four regional and three tertiary hospitals). Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional survey completed between July 2022 and October 2022. Results: Thirteen hospitals had audiologists (n = 4) or speech therapists and audiologists (n = 9). Specific to equipment, 10 hospitals had a screening otoacoustic emissions or automated auditory brainstem response, 8 hospitals had diagnostic middle ear analysers and only 3 hospitals had diagnostic auditory brainstem response and/or auditory steady state response. Twelve hospitals did not have visual response audiometry (VRA) and 94% had no hearing aid verification systems. Budget allocations were uneven, with only 10 hospitals, i.e., 4 districts, all regional and 2 tertiary hospitals being allocated varying amounts. Subsequently, only 50% provided newborn hearing screening, 56% provided diagnostic evaluations and 14 hospitals fitted hearing aids. Conclusion: Results revealed a limited and uneven distribution of resources, which negatively impacted the provision of EHDI. Even distribution of healthcare resources and further research aimed at strengthening hearing health services is recommended as these could potentially improve equitable access to EHDI and the overall quality of healthcare provided. Contribution: This study highlights the need for even distribution of resources and strengthening of health systems, especially in the dawn of the National Health Insurance.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Child, PreschoolABSTRACT
A pesquisa teve como objetivo analisar a Política Estadual de Educação Permanente em Saúde (PEEPS) no âmbito dos hospitais da Secretaria de Estado de Saúde do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (SES/RJ). Defendeu a seguinte tese: mostrar que as ações de EPS direcionadas aos profissionais de saúde dos hospitais da SES/RJ, gerenciados por Organizações Sociais (OSS) e pela Fundação Saúde do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FSERJ), são ações de educação que divergem das concepções de EPS expressas na Política nacional de EPS e na PEEPS/RJ. A metodologia utilizada foi a análise documental, a partir da técnica de análise de conteúdo, usando os documentos do PlanejaSUS do ERJ e dos contratos de gestão da SES/RJ celebrados com OSS e FSERJ, todos publicados no período de 2007 a 2020. A pesquisa evidenciou ausência de indicadores para EPS em diversos contratos de gestão, diferentes indicadores de EPS em um único contrato de gestão e inexistência de relatos sobre ações de EPS em diversas prestações de contas anuais. O estudo aponta sugestões que possibilitam melhorar a capilaridade e gestão da PEEPS/RJ para os hospitais estaduais da SES/RJ.
The research aimed to analyze the State Policy of Permanent Education in Health (PEEPS) in the scope of hospitals of the State Department of Health of the State of Rio de Janeiro (SES/RJ). He defended the following thesis: to show that EPS actions aimed at health professionals at SES/RJ hospitals, managed by Social Organizations (OSS) and by the Fundação Saúde do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FSERJ), are educational actions that diverge of the EPS concepts expressed in the national EPS Policy and in the PEEPS/RJ. The methodology used was document analysis, based on the content analysis technique, using the documents of PlanningSUS do ERJ and the SES/RJ management contracts signed with OSS and FSERJ, all published between 2007 and 2020. The research evidenced the absence of indicators for EPS in several management contracts, different indicators of EPS in a single management contract and inexistence of reports on EPS actions in several annual accounts. The study points out suggestions that make it possible to improve the capillarity and management of PEEPS/RJ for the state hospitals of SES/RJ.
Subject(s)
Education, Continuing , Health Human Resource Training , Health Policy , Hospitals, State , Brazil , Health ManagementABSTRACT
Aims: Analysis of the current audio logical management protocols for children with hearing impairment in South Africa’s Gauteng state hospitals was investigated in this study. Study Design and Methods: A retrospective record review was conducted, with 70 files/medical records of paediatric patients between the ages of birth and three years. These records came from three state hospitals’ audiology clinics where full audio logical and otological services were available. Results: Findings of this study revealed concerning trends. Firstly, findings indicated that on average children were identified with a hearing loss at 23.65 months. Secondly, they received amplification 7.11 months after diagnosis and were only introduced into aural rehabilitation at the average age of 31.2 months. However, 81% of children received appropriate audio logical tests; with 85.7% of children who were identified with a hearing loss receiving amplification. All children identified with a bilateral hearing loss in the current sample were aided bilaterally. As far as communication development was concerned, 48.57% of the children identified with a hearing loss received the auditory verbal therapy approach, with 18.57% receiving sign language as a means of communication, while 11.43% received a total communication approach. A significant number (14.29%) were not receiving aural rehabilitation therapy. Conclusion: Findings raise important implications for the success of early hearing detection and intervention (EHDI) initiatives in South Africa. Improved and concerted efforts in the form of systematic planning and implementation of EHDI protocols are required.