Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7fkt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T05:53:23.986Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices related to chronic suppurative otitis media and hearing impairment in Pokhara, Nepal

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 November 2015

N F Poole ,
M K Skilton ,
T C P Martin  and
M C F Smith
N F Poole*
Affiliation:
College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK
M K Skilton
Affiliation:
College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK
T C P Martin
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, Worcester Royal Hospital, UK
M C F Smith
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, Worcester Royal Hospital, UK Department of ENT, Hereford County Hospital, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Miss N Poole, 40 Heathfield Close, Formby, Liverpool L37 7HP, UK Email: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background:

Nepal has a high prevalence of chronic suppurative otitis media and hearing impairment. An improved understanding of patients' knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices is therefore important for effective healthcare planning and intervention.

Method:

Questionnaires designed to explore their current knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices were completed by 153 participants: 71 were affected by a known ear disease and 82 were unaffected.

Results:

In the unaffected group, 31.7 per cent considered breast milk to be a risk factor for ear infection. Home remedies (e.g. leaf paste, oils, and urine and/or bodily fluids) had been used by 42.3 per cent of the affected group. Most participants (71.9 per cent) believed that society discriminates against those with hearing impairment.

Conclusion:

Knowledge deficits and false beliefs were found in both groups, along with a significant use of home remedies and a perception of discrimination against people with hearing impairment. These findings are relevant for healthcare providers and may aid the development of policy, interventions and public education initiatives.

Keywords

Health Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeEar DiseasesOtitisHearing LossNepal
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 130 , Issue 1 , January 2016 , pp. 56 - 65
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1World Health Organization Regional Office for South-East Asia. Situation review and update on deafness, hearing loss and intervention programmes. In: http://www.searo.who.int/LinkFiles/Publications_SEA-Deaf-10.pdf [1st November 2013]Google Scholar
2World Health Organization. Millions of People in the World have Hearing Loss that can be Treated or Prevented. Awareness is the Key to Prevention. In: http://www.who.int/pbd/deafness/news/Millionslivewithhearingloss.pdf [1st October 2013]Google Scholar
3Malik, K. Human Development Report 2013: The Rise of the South: Human Progress in a Diverse World. United Nations Development Programme. In: http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/librarypage/hdr/human-development-report-2013/ [1st November 2013]Google Scholar
4Central Bureau of Statistics. Nepal – Living Standards Survey 2010–2011, Third Round. In: http://microdata.worldbank.org/index.php/catalog/1000 [1st November 2013]Google Scholar
5Little, P, Bridges, A, Guragain, R, Friedman, D, Prasad, R, Weir, N. Hearing impairment and ear pathology in Nepal. J Laryngol Otol 1993;107:395–400CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6Chand, O, Uprety, D. Medical Anthropological/Sociological Studies in Nepal, a Bibliography. In: http://www.martinchautari.org.np/files/Biblio_MedicalAnthropological_Obindra_Devendra.pdf [1st November 2013]Google Scholar
7Daly, K, Selvius, RE, Lindgren, B. Knowledge and attitudes about otitis media risk: implications for prevention. Pediatrics 1991;100:931–6CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8Srikanth, S, Isaac, R, Rebekah, G, Rupa, V. Knowledge, attitudes and practices with respect to risk factors for otitis media in a rural South Indian community. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2009;73:1394–8CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9Rupa, V, Jacob, A, Joseph, A. Chronic suppurative otitis media: prevalence and practices among rural South Indian children. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 1999;48:217–22CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10Lasisi, O, Ajuwon, A. Beliefs and perceptions of ear, nose and throat-related conditions among residents of a traditional community in Ibadan, Nigeria. Afr J Med Sci 2002;31:49–52Google ScholarPubMed
11Curry, MD, Mathews, HF, Daniel, HJ, Johnson, JC, Mansfield, CJ. Beliefs about and responses to childhood ear infections: a study of parents in Eastern North Carolina. Soc Sci Med 2002;54:1153–6CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12De Andrade, V, Ross, E. Beliefs and practices of Black South African traditional healers regarding hearing impairment. Int J Audiol 2005;44:489–9CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13Jeffries-Stokes, C, Lehmann, D, Johnston, J, Mason, A, Evans, J, Elsbury, D, Wood, K. Aboriginal perspective on middle ear disease in the arid zone of Western Australia. J Paediatr Child Health 2004;40:258–64CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan City Office, Ministry of Local Development, Government of Nepal. Pokhara Overview. In: http://www.pokharacity.org.np/pokhara-overview.php [1st December 2013]Google Scholar
15Altman, DG, Machin, D, Bryant, TN, Gardner, MJ. Statistics with Confidence, 2nd edn.London: BMJ Publications, 2000Google Scholar
16Crandell, C, Mills, T, Gauthier, R. Knowledge, behaviors, and attitudes about hearing loss and hearing protection among racial/ethnically diverse young adults. J Natl Med Assoc 2004;96:176–86Google ScholarPubMed
17MedlinePlus. US National Library of Medicine (US). Ear infection – acute. In: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000638.htm [1st April 2014]Google Scholar
18Becker, M. The health belief model and personal health behavior. Health Educ Monogr 1974;2:324–508CrossRefGoogle Scholar
19Kunwar, R, Shrestha, K, Bussmann, R. Traditional herbal medicine in Far-west Nepal: a pharmacological appraisal. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 2010;6:35CrossRefGoogle Scholar
20Lamichane, K. Disability, poverty and inequality: lessons for post 2015 development agenda toward achieving greater inclusiveness. Australian Disability and Development Consortium. 2012. In: http://www.addc.org.au/documents/resources/disability-poverty-inequality-lessons-for-post-2015-development-agenda-toward-achieving-greater-inclusiveness_929.pdf [1st April 2014]Google Scholar
21Thakur, S. A situation analysis of disability in Nepal. Tribhuvan University Journal 2005;25:1–9CrossRefGoogle Scholar
22Ear Aid Nepal. Ear Hospital. In: http://www.earaidnepal.org/WhatWeDo/ear_hospital.html [1st October 2013]Google Scholar
23Saunders, G, Dann, S, Griest, S, Frederick, M. Development and evaluation of a questionnaire to assess knowledge, attitudes and behaviours towards hearing loss prevention. Int J Audiol 2014;53:209–18.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed