Level of Hearing Loss and Associated Factors Among Individuals Aged 5 Years and Above in Ethiopia
Waltengus Birhanu1, Alene Meshesha1, Abebayehu Bedilu1
1Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, St Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Background:
Hearing loss is a major public health concern, affecting more than 1.57 billion people globally in 2019. According to the disability index, it currently ranks fourth among the global causes of years lived.
Objective:
to determine the level of hearing loss and its associated factors among individuals aged 5 years and above in Ethiopia.
Methods:
A population-based National Ethiopian ear and Hearing Survey of 2023, descriptive statistics were used to summarize the sample and outcomes, while ordinal logistic regression models examined the relationship between hearing loss levels and potential predictors.
Results:
the overall prevalence of hearing loss among individuals aged ≥ 5 years was 15.6%. Significant factors for the severity of hearing loss included older age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.02), ear discharge (OR = 1.84), and eardrum perforation (OR = 1.76).
Conclusion:
Key factors contributing to the level of hearing loss include age, ear discharge, and eardrum perforation. This underscores the need for enhanced ear health awareness and targeted interventions in primary care to address modifiable risk factors and mitigate the impact of hearing loss.
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