Department of Communication Pathology, University of Pretoria.
S Afr Med J. 2011 Sep 5;101(9):665-7.
To determine: (i) the national status of newborn hearing screening services in the private health care sector of South Africa; (ii) screening approaches implemented; and (iii) challenges to screening implementation.
A descriptive national survey in the private sector of South Africa was conducted within a quantitative paradigm.
All private health sector institutions with obstetric units (N=166) were surveyed telephonically and self-administered questionnaires were subsequently sent to all audiologists in private practice (N=87) who provide newborn hearing screening services at the units with hearing screening.
Nationally 53% of private sector obstetric units offer some form of newborn hearing screening. Universal hearing screening was only offered by 14% of units, while the most common approaches were universal screening on some days of the week (18%) and screening on request (18%). The most prominent challenge to successful screening implementation was the apparent omission of newborn hearing screening from maternity birthing packages at the health care institutions.
The vast majority of newborns nationally are not screened for hearing loss, and existing programmes are not sufficiently systematic and integrated to ensure adequate coverage. Hospital management and paediatric health services must prioritise hearing screening as part of standard of care birthing services.
确定：(i)南非私营医疗保健部门新生儿听力筛查服务的国家现状；(ii)实施的筛查方法；和(iii)筛查实施的挑战。
在定量范式内对南非私营部门进行了描述性全国调查。
对所有设有产科单位的私营医疗保健机构（N=166）进行电话调查，随后向所有在设有听力筛查单位提供新生儿听力筛查服务的私营执业听力学（N=87）发送自我管理问卷。
全国有 53%的私营部门产科单位提供某种形式的新生儿听力筛查。仅 14%的单位提供普遍听力筛查，而最常见的方法是每周某些日子普遍筛查（18%）和应要求筛查（18%）。成功实施筛查的最突出挑战是医疗保健机构的产妇分娩套餐中明显遗漏了新生儿听力筛查。
全国绝大多数新生儿都没有接受听力损失筛查，现有的方案不够系统和综合，无法确保充分覆盖。医院管理和儿科卫生服务必须将听力筛查作为标准护理分娩服务的一部分来优先考虑。
