ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and causes of disabling hearing loss in adults and children in Uganda. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey of ear disease and hearing impairment. SETTING: A random cluster sample design of the population from the Masindi district of Uganda following the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, using a modified version of the WHO Ear Disease Survey Protocol. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The prevalence of disabling hearing impairment using the WHO definitions (excluding 0.5 kHz owing to high background noise levels). RESULTS: In the study, 6041 participants were enrolled and underwent audiometric evaluation and an ear examination. The prevalence of disabling hearing impairment was 11.7% in adults and 10.2% in children. A further 2.3% of children in whom thresholds could not be measured were deemed to have significant hearing loss based on screening questions and/or sound-field stimuli. Correctable causes such as dry perforations, cerumen impaction, and chronic suppurative otitis media resulted in disabling hearing loss in 17% of adult subjects and 41% of children. Preventable hearing loss, such as meningitis and noise-induced hearing loss, was present in a further significant percentage of subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Ear disease and hearing impairment were found to be important health problems in the Ugandan population. Preventable ear disease is a major cause of hearing loss in the population. It is hoped that the findings of this study will draw attention to the problem in Uganda and will lead to proper allocation of resources for the prevention and treatment of hearing loss and ear disease.
Subject(s)
Ear Diseases/epidemiology , Hearing Loss/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Child , Child, Preschool , Cluster Analysis , Cross-Sectional Studies , Ear Diseases/diagnosis , Ear Diseases/prevention & control , Female , Health Surveys , Hearing Loss/diagnosis , Hearing Loss/prevention & control , Humans , Infant , Male , Middle Aged , Prevalence , Risk Factors , Uganda/epidemiology , Young AdultABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of significant hearing impairment in children attending primary school in the country of Zimbabwe. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of the prevalence of hearing impairment in primary school children was undertaken as part of The Rotary Hearing Health Care Program in Zimbabwe. The sampling unit was primary schools in Manicaland, a province of Zimbabwe. All students in selected schools were screened. In total, 5528 students were screened for significant hearing impairment defined as greater than 30 dB HL at 1, 2 and 4 kHz in a quiet classroom. RESULTS: Overall, 135 students (2.4%, 95% CI 2.0-2.8) were identified as having a hearing threshold of greater than 30 dB in at least one ear and for at least one of the test frequencies. A conductive hearing loss was found in 79 students, or 1.4% of the total, and a sensorineural hearing loss was found in 56 students or 1.0% of the total. Disabling hearing impairment was found in 0.9% of children. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of hearing impairment in children in Zimbabwe is significant, even as a conservative measure amongst children attending school. Hearing impairment challenges the academic, career and social potential of young children. Regular screening, such as this could help target preventative measures that may improve the hearing impaired child's potential in terms of social interaction, academic achievement, and work opportunities.
