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Published on: January 23, 2017
Cost-effectiveness of audiometric screening of first-year preparatory pupils in Dhofar Region, Oman
T Aasham1, R Khandekar, M Khabori
1School Health Services, Ministry of Health, Dhofar Region, Oman.
Insights
Audiometric screening in Omani preparatory school children revealed a low prevalence of ear problems. The study concluded that this screening is not cost-effective due to the low yield of significant findings.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Audiology
- Pediatric Medicine
Background:
- Ear problems in children can impact development and learning.
- Early detection through screening is crucial for timely intervention.
- The cost-effectiveness of widespread screening programs needs evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the prevalence of ear conditions in first-year preparatory school children in Oman's Dhofar region.
- To determine the cost-effectiveness of audiometric screening for this demographic.
Main Methods:
- Audiometric screening was performed on 1894 first-year preparatory school pupils.
- Prevalence of conditions like otitis media, hearing loss, impacted wax, and eardrum perforations was recorded.
- Referral rates and screening expenditure per pupil were analyzed.
Main Results:
- A low prevalence of serious ear conditions was found: 0.32% impacted wax, 0.21% chronic suppurative otitis media, and 0.11% dry eardrum perforation.
- Only 0.74% of children were referred for specialist consultation, with a low attendance rate (2 out of 14).
- Screening yielded less than 1% positive cases, with an expenditure of US$5 per pupil.
Conclusions:
- The prevalence of significant ear pathologies in this population is low.
- Expanding audiometric screening to first-year preparatory school children in this region is not considered cost-effective.
- Resource allocation may be better directed towards populations with higher prevalence rates.
Abstract:
Audiometric screening was conducted in Dhofar region to study the magnitude of ear problems and cost-effectiveness of screening first-year preparatory-school children in Oman. None of the 1894 pupils had otitis media with effusion or sensory neuronal hearing loss. Six children (0.32%) had impacted wax, 4 (0.21%) chronic suppurative otitis media and 2 (0.11%) dry perforation of eardrum. In all, 14 children (0.74%) with suspected hearing impairment were referred to a specialist but only 2 attended. Physicians and nurses spent 8-10 minutes for ear examination per child for a yield of less than 1%. The screening expenditure was US$ 5 per pupil. As the prevalence of serious ear conditions was low, we conclude that expanding the audiometric screening of schoolchildren to first-year preparatory pupils is not cost-effective.
