Mapping neonatal hearing screening services in Cape Town metro: A situational analysis
Petronella H Louw1, Tara Odendaal, Lebogang Ramma
1Department of Community Projects, Carel du Toit Trust, Cape Town. hermienlouwhearing@gmail.com.
Insights
Neonatal hearing screening (NHS) is not mandated in South Africa, leading to delayed diagnosis of childhood hearing loss. This study found no PHC facilities in Cape Town offer NHS, highlighting a critical gap in early detection and intervention services.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Audiology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Childhood hearing loss is a significant global health issue.
- Neonatal hearing screening (NHS) is crucial for early detection but not mandated in South Africa.
- Lack of awareness and screening leads to delayed diagnosis and developmental issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the availability of neonatal hearing screening (NHS) services in primary healthcare (PHC) facilities within the City of Cape Town (CCT).
Main Methods:
- Surveys were conducted across 26 PHC facilities in CCT offering mother and child healthcare.
- Data collected via online and telephone surveys.
- Assessed NHS service availability, care pathways, and healthcare professional training.
Main Results:
- No facilities utilized objective screening methods or had standardized care pathways for at-risk infants.
- Screening relied on parental concerns and the Road to Health book.
- 62% of respondents lacked confidence in ear and hearing care knowledge; none reported specific training.
Conclusions:
- The absence of NHS services necessitates standardized protocols and increased awareness.
- Implementing NHS services can improve early diagnosis and intervention for infant hearing loss.
- Findings can guide efforts to enhance NHS access at the PHC level in Cape Town.
Background:
Childhood hearing loss is a global health concern. Despite the proven benefits of neonatal hearing screening (NHS), it is not yet mandated in South Africa. The lack of awareness of hearing loss and absence of NHS leads to delayed diagnosis and adverse developmental outcomes for affected children.
Aim:
The study aimed to assess the availability of NHS services across primary healthcare (PHC) facilities in the City of Cape Town (CCT).
Setting:
Surveys were conducted with 26 PHC facilities in the CCT metropolitan areas that offer mother and child healthcare services.
Methods:
Surveys gathered data through online and telephone methods. The surveys aimed to assess the availability and nature of NHS services, care pathways and training of healthcare professionals regarding NHS.
Results:
None of the facilities used objective screening methods to screen hearing or have standardised care pathways for at-risk babies. Instead, they relied on parental concerns, with the use of the Road to Health book. None of the respondents reported having received hearing screening training, and the majority of participants (62%) lacked confidence in their knowledge of ear and hearing care.
Conclusion:
The absence of NHS services highlights the need for standardised protocols and increased awareness among healthcare workers and caregivers. Implementing NHS services could facilitate earlier diagnosis and intervention of hearing loss for infants in the Western Cape.Contribution: This study's findings could guide efforts to improving access to NHS access at PHC level in Cape Town, ultimately providing early hearing screening services to infants.
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