An Embedded Mixed-Methods Study with a Dominant Quantitative Strand: The Knowledge of Jordanian Mothers About Risk...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Pediatric Audiology
• Health Literacy

Background:

• Childhood hearing loss significantly impacts speech, academics, and quality of life.
• Parental awareness of risk factors is crucial for early detection and intervention.
• Understanding maternal knowledge is key to addressing this public health issue.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess Jordanian mothers' knowledge of childhood hearing loss risk factors.
• To investigate the influence of education and socioeconomic status (SES) on this knowledge.
• To examine the moderating role of health literacy in knowledge accuracy and comprehensiveness.

Main Methods:

• Embedded mixed-methods design with a dominant quantitative strand.
• Quantitative surveys (n=250) analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM).
• Qualitative interviews (n=10) for thematic analysis of barriers and behaviors.

Main Results:

• Maternal knowledge of hearing loss risk factors positively correlated with accuracy and comprehensiveness.
• Knowledge was significantly associated with education level and SES.
• Health literacy moderated the relationship between knowledge and accuracy; higher health literacy strengthened this link.

Conclusions:

• Maternal education programs are needed to simplify health communication and improve access to audiology services.
• Addressing barriers to information access and healthcare utilization is essential.
• Future research should focus on longitudinal studies and interventions for early childhood hearing loss detection.