Childhood hearing loss; a need for primary health care.
INTRODUCTION
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.


CONCLUSION
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.
['Ogunkeyede|Segun Ayodeji|SA|', 'Adebola|Stephen Oluwatosin|SO|', 'Salman|Abdulwasiu|A|', 'Lasisi|Akeem Olawale|AO|']
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 D006320:Hearing Tests D006801:Humans D008297:Male D009549:Nigeria D010036:Otolaryngology D010290:Parents D011320:Primary Health Care D012017:Referral and Consultation D012923:Social Class
Primary health care Hearing impairment Community health worker Nigeria Ear care