Evaluation of mother’s awareness and perceptions about neonatal hearing loss screening

Background and Objective: Awareness and perception of parents about hearing loss is an important factor in successful screening in neonates. There are negative and superstitious believes about disability of children in developing countries. This study was designed to evaluate the awareness rate and perception of parents about hearing loss of neonates. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 101 patient’s mothers admitted in surgical ward of Qazvin pediatrics Quds hospital from June to September 2017. The questionnaires which were consisted demographic information, 14 awareness evaluating questions and 2 perceptional evaluating questions were filled by mothers themselves. By scoring the answers, the awareness rate and perception in each field and generally were evaluated. The data was analyzed statistically by using SPSS version 19 and statistical test of chi-square. Findings: 101 mothers with the average age of 25.5 years old with 17-42 years old range were entered the study. 59.4% of participants had only one child. The hearing loss history was positive in 11%of first degree relatives and 3% of their other children. The awareness of meningitis as a risk factor (87.1%, average score 2.84±0.34) and relation between hearing loss and speech disorders (88.1%, average score 2.84±0.46) were more than others. But awareness of asphyxia (25.7%, average score1.81±0.81) and icter (30.7%, average score1.92±0.82) as a risk factor were less than the others. Totally the weak, normal and good awareness were shown respectively in 2%, 37.6%, and 60.4% of mothers. However 50% of mothers got at least 35 score out of maximum42 scores. The perception of mothers about performing hearing loss screening test and using hearing aid was excellent (92.1% and 91.1%, respectively). This result in one child mothers was significantly lower. (P<0.05). Conclusion: In our study a very good perception in most parents (92%) were obtained. Appropriate perception of mothers about screening and treatment of hearing loss could be an important factor for increasing mother’s awareness and progressing the diagnostic methods could decrease late diagnosis of hearing impairment and also false positive diagnosis and negative effects.

Keywords:

Hearing loss , Neonatal screening , Awareness and perception , Mothers , Developing countries