Knowledge and Beliefs about Ear and Hearing Health among Mothers of Young
                        Children in a Rural Community in South India

Narayansamy, Meivizhi; Ramkumar, Vidya; Nagarajan, Roopa

doi:10.5463/dcid.v25i4.328

Cited by 15 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…An early study on the awareness of college students’ knowledge and awareness of hearing and hearing loss indicate that there is a lack of knowledge and understanding of the existence of and the role of audiologist (Lass, Woodford & Everly-Myers, 1990 ). Although some survey-based international studies have attempted to provide insight into the general public’s awareness of the audiology, hearing and hearing health (Di Berardino et al, 2013 ; Gabriel, Mohammed & Paul, 2015 ; Lass et al, 1990 ; Lee, Govindara & Hon, 2005 ; Narayansamy, Ramkumar & Nagarajan, 2014 ), no information is available for the rural South African context.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Public awareness of audiology, hearing and hearing health in the Limpopo Province, South Africa

Joubert

Sebothoma

Kgare

2017

SAJCD

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BackgroundThe burden of hearing loss is on the increase, especially in low-income countries such as South Africa. The need for urgent action to prevent ear and hearing problems is a priority, especially as in many cases permanent hearing loss is preventable. In South Africa, as in other developing countries, there is a limited number of hearing health professionals and audiological resources. The lack of hearing health services may impact the general public’s awareness of hearing and hearing health. Limited information is available on the South African public’s knowledge of audiologists and the services they provide, especially in underserved rural communities.AimThe aim of this study was to describe individuals’ awareness of the audiology profession, hearing and hearing loss, and hearing health in a rural area of the Limpopo Province.MethodA cross-sectional survey design was employed for the purpose of this study. Using a random sampling strategy, 297 households in four rural villages were selected and a self-developed questionnaire was administered to one individual (18 years and older) per household. The questionnaire consisted of 23 questions targeting awareness of the audiology profession, as well as knowledge of hearing, hearing loss and hearing health.ResultsOnly 14% of participants were aware of the audiology profession, indicating that individuals living in rural communities are not aware of the role of audiologists and the services they provide. Doctors and nurses were identified by participants as the individuals who assist them with hearing-related problems. Although most participants (87%) acknowledged that it is very important to undergo a hearing test, only 5% have previously visited an audiologist. Most participants were aware that ear infections and excessive noise exposure can cause hearing loss. The majority also believed that ears must be kept clean at all times and used cotton buds to maintain ear hygiene.ConclusionThere is a general lack of public awareness of audiologists and the services they offer. This study highlighted the need for the National Department of Health in collaboration with professional associations and hearing health professionals to develop and implement effective strategies to increase the South African public’s awareness of the profession and the services they provide. South African universities can also play a significant role in teaching students to develop context-relevant strategies to increase awareness of the profession.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Public awareness of audiology, hearing and hearing health in the Limpopo Province, South Africa

Joubert

Sebothoma

Kgare

2017

SAJCD

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“…The developed test also could also be used as a tool to demonstrate to caregivers of children with hearing impairment regarding the importance of providing their wards training prior to admission to school. Narayansamy, Ramkumar, and Nagarajan (2014) noted that mother of children with hearing impairment in rural south India believed that once children with hearing impairment were fitted with hearing aids they could go to regular schools without further intervention. Tests such as the 'Pre-arithmetic school readiness tool' could be utilized to highlight to them the need for special intervention to prepare their children for regular school.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Arithmetic School Readiness of Preschoolers with Hearing Impairment

Yathiraj¹,

Poovaiah²

2017

INT-JECSE

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“…Understanding community beliefs and attitudes to communication disability that reflect the unique linguistic and cultural community needs of Fiji is important for clinicians working with this community. Determination and acknowledgement of individual belief systems is imperative for developing culturally appropriate treatment programmes and health promotion activities (Anderson et al, 2003;Narayansamy et al, 2014).Thus, the main aims of this study are to describe Fijian community members':…”

Section: Objectivementioning

confidence: 99%

Communication Disability in Fiji: Community Cultural Beliefs and Attitudes

Hopf

McLeod

McDonagh

et al. 2017

DCID

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Purpose: Beliefs about communication disability vary according to the cultural context, and influence people’s attitudes and help-seeking behaviour. Little is known about Fijians with communication disability or the communities in which they live, and specialist services for people with communication disability are yet to be established in Fiji. An understanding of Fijian beliefs about the causes of communication disability and attitudes towards people with communication disability may inform future service development.Method: An interpretivist qualitative research paradigm and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework informed this project’s design. Scenarios of adults and children with communication disability were presented to 144 participants, randomly sampled across multiple public spaces in two Fiji cities. Thematic analysis of responses to 15 survey questions revealed participant beliefs about the causes and attitudes towards people with communication disability.Results: Three clusters describing perceived causes emerged from the analysis - internal, external, and supernatural. Major clusters across child and adult scenarios were similar; however, response categories within the scenarios differed. Community attitudes to people with communication disability were predominantly negative. These community attitudes influenced individual participants’ beliefs about educational and employment opportunities for Fijians with communication disability.Conclusion: Determination and acknowledgement of individuals’ belief systems informs development of culturally appropriate intervention programmes and health promotion activities.Implications: Speech-language pathologists and other professionals working with Fijian communities should acknowledge community belief systems and develop culturally-specific health promotion activities, assessments, and interventions.

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Knowledge and Beliefs about Ear and Hearing Health among Mothers of Young Children in a Rural Community in South India

Cited by 15 publications

References 12 publications

Public awareness of audiology, hearing and hearing health in the Limpopo Province, South Africa

Public awareness of audiology, hearing and hearing health in the Limpopo Province, South Africa

Arithmetic School Readiness of Preschoolers with Hearing Impairment

Communication Disability in Fiji: Community Cultural Beliefs and Attitudes

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