Department of Community Projects, Carel du Toit Trust, Cape Town.
Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med. 2024 Aug 20;16(1):e1-e8. doi: 10.4102/phcfm.v16i1.4386.
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.
The study aimed to assess the availability of NHS services across primary healthcare (PHC) facilities in the City of Cape Town (CCT).
Surveys were conducted with 26 PHC facilities in the CCT metropolitan areas that offer mother and child healthcare services.
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.
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.
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.
儿童听力损失是一个全球性的健康问题。尽管新生儿听力筛查（NHS）已被证明具有益处，但在南非尚未强制实施。由于对听力损失的认识不足以及 NHS 的缺失，受影响的儿童往往会被延迟诊断，导致发育结果不佳。
本研究旨在评估开普敦市（CCT）初级保健（PHC）设施中 NHS 服务的可及性。
对 CCT 大都市区提供母婴保健服务的 26 个 PHC 设施进行了调查。
通过在线和电话方法收集调查数据。这些调查旨在评估 NHS 服务、护理途径以及医疗保健专业人员在 NHS 方面的培训的可用性和性质。
没有一家机构使用客观的筛查方法来筛查听力，也没有为高危婴儿制定标准化的护理途径。相反，他们依赖于父母的关注，使用《通向健康之路》一书。没有受访者报告接受过听力筛查培训，大多数参与者（62%）对自己的耳部和听力护理知识缺乏信心。
缺乏 NHS 服务突出表明需要为医疗保健工作者和护理人员制定标准化的方案并提高他们的认识。在西开普省实施 NHS 服务可以促进对婴儿听力损失的早期诊断和干预。
本研究的结果可以指导在开普敦 PHC 层面上改善 NHS 服务可及性的努力，最终为婴儿提供早期听力筛查服务。
