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

Worldviews of hearing health for Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand: a mixed methods study

“…Although traditional healing practices have previously been thought to be practised more by Pacific people living in Pacific Island countries, 31 more recent research has highlighted the high utilisation of more mainstream healthcare services by Pacific peoples in NZ. 12,13 The findings from this study align with studies showing that although Pacific peoples are knowledgeable, active seekers of healthcare services, they have differential experiences of quality, level of engagement and management of their health conditions. 4 This study highlights that an explanation of the purpose of the referral, the location of the follow-up site, potential follow-up tests, and any additional costs must be explained to the patient and their families.…”

“…12 Such findings contrast with hearing research with community members in Samoa and the Solomon Islands, revealing common beliefs that hearing loss is due to a curse or a spiritual cause. 11,13 The study reveals a process of acculturation that can influence how one perceives and understands hearing health, including the causes of hearing loss. Participants expressed views that showed that childhood in the Pacific Islands and adulthood in New Zealand can result in changing views of health over time.…”

“…Three studies have been conducted on perspectives of ear and hearing health knowledge and beliefs in Pacific Island countries and all showed strong support for community-based hearing health services, with community members having strong knowledge of ear and hearing health. [11][12][13] Only one study on older Pacific peoples' perspectives revealed financial, structural and cognitive barriers to accessing hearing health services in NZ. 14 No studies to date have examined the hearing health worldviews of Pacific peoples, in particular young peoples, and facilitating factors to hearing health services access in NZ.…”

Knowledge and attitudes of school principals towards childhood hearing loss and hearing services: A cross-sectional survey to support the implementation of inclusive education in Samoa

“…A striking difference between the Samoan and South African results was that knowledge was significantly higher for congenital hearing loss among the South African (84.1%) than the Samoan study populations (69.7%). Given that previous research in the Pacific Islands found that parental awareness of congenital hearing loss is low, 8.7% in Samoa and 28% in the Solomon Islands, 28 , 29 the present finding among Samoan educators suggests that this information is probably gained through their professional training and/or experience. Anecdotally, it is generally believed that babies are born perfect, and that any developmental or sensory impairment is due to a causal event(s) in the postnatal period.…”

“…It is also possible that ‘treatment of hearing loss’ may include non-biomedical dimensions: 40% of Samoan female caregivers agreed that curses may cause childhood hearing loss. 29 Again, the fact that 73.4% of educators responded positively to the statement that hearing loss can be treated suggests that, no matter their understanding of this phrase, a significant proportion of school principals would seek healthcare advice regarding hearing health concerns.…”