Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Kaspar, Annette
• Figao, Ferila
• Driscoll, Carlie
• Pifeleti, Sione

Titel

Knowledge and attitudes of female caregivers in Samoa to childhood hearing loss and hearing services

Ist Teil von

• International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology, 2023-06, Vol.169, p.111557-111557, Article 111557

Ort / Verlag

Ireland: Elsevier B.V

Erscheinungsjahr

2023

Quelle

MEDLINE

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• To assess the knowledge and attitudes of 150 female caregivers in Samoa to childhood hearing loss and hearing services, and to compare findings between urban (n = 100) and rural-dwelling (n = 50) caregivers. A semi-structured interview using a 26-item questionnaire was administered to participants in the Samoan language. Participants were required to respond “yes”, “no”, or “unsure”. Highest awareness of aetiology of childhood hearing loss was found for otitis media (88.7%), followed by noise exposure (64.7%) and family history (38%). Highest awareness of public health measures that may prevent/reduce otitis media was found for routine childhood immunizations (74.7%) and breast-feeding for first 6 months of life (69.3%). Overall, 40% of Samoan caregivers agreed that curses may cause childhood hearing loss. There was overwhelming support for community-based hearing services for newborns/infants (98%) and school students (97.3%). There is positive support for community-based hearing health services for children among female caregivers of Samoa. There was high awareness of otitis media as a major cause of childhood hearing loss, as well as good knowledge of public health measures that reduce/minimise the risk of otitis media.