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Community oriented research program for prevention of deafness with special stress on children - A preliminary report
Sanjib Kumar Upadhyay1, Ashok Kumar Jha, S C Mishra
1Department of ENT, BPKIHS, 36, Shaheed Marg Biratnagar-9, Dharan, Nepal.
Insights
In rural Nepal, a study found significant multi-nutritional deficiency and incomplete immunization in children. Conductive deafness was prevalent, but improved with better ear care, highlighting community health needs.
Area of Science:
- Community Health
- Pediatric Audiology
- Nutritional Epidemiology
Background:
- Rural eastern Nepal faces significant child health challenges.
- Multinutritional deficiency affects 20% of children studied.
- Incomplete immunization rates are high at 45%.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the health status of children in rural eastern Nepal.
- To identify prevalent conditions like nutritional deficiencies and ear diseases.
- To evaluate the impact of interventions on ear health.
Main Methods:
- Community-oriented multilateral study screening 2564 patients.
- Focus on 1223 children aged up to 14 years.
- Hearing analysis including prevalence of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.
Main Results:
- Children aged 5-14 years are most vulnerable to ear diseases (50.16%).
- Conductive deafness is highly prevalent (62.46%) compared to sensorineural (2.40%) or mixed (0.18%) hearing loss.
- Improved ear care led to 67% control of otorrhea and improved conductive deafness.
Conclusions:
- Multinutritional deficiency and incomplete immunization are critical public health issues in this population.
- Ear diseases, particularly conductive deafness, are a major concern for children in this region.
- Targeted ear care interventions show promise in managing otorrhea and improving hearing outcomes.
Abstract:
A study of community- oriented multilaleral study was carried out in rural community of eastern Nepal where in total of 2564 patients were screened out and it revealed that multi nutritional deficiency comprised of 20% along with unsatisfactory or incomplete immunization was recorded in 45%. Children up-to 14 years of age (1223) were considered for this study. 5-14 years of age were the must vulnerable for ear diseases (50.16%). 61% children were living in over crowded dwellings. The hearing analysis established that the number of conductive deafness were prevalent in 62.46% in comparison to sensory-neural hearing loss 2.40% and mixed hearing loss (0.18%). Due to better ear care, Otorrhoea was under control in 67% cases and so was the conductive deafness improved.
