Exploring Community Knowledge on Hearing Loss and Attitudes Towards Persons with Hearing Loss in Southwestern Uganda

Doreen Nakku; Amina Seguya; Gladys Nakalema; Victoria Nyaiteera; Kiwanuka Joseph Kyobe; Elijah Kakande

doi:10.37284/eajhs.8.1.2589

Doreen Nakku Mbarara University of Science and Technology
Amina Seguya Mulago National Referral Hospital
Gladys Nakalema Mbarara University of Science and Technology
Victoria Nyaiteera Mbarara University of Science and Technology
Kiwanuka Joseph Kyobe Mbarara University of Science and Technology
Elijah Kakande Infectious Disease Research Collaboration

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37284/eajhs.8.1.2589

Keywords: Hearing Loss, Attitudes, Stigma, Community, Uganda

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Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) advocates for community accessibility of ear and hearing health services. The success of such services is influenced by a community’s under-standing of hearing loss causes and attitudes towards persons with hearing loss (PWHL). A cross-sectional mixed methods study was conducted in a local community in southwestern Uganda aimed at assessing knowledge on causes of hearing loss (HL) and attitudes towards PWHL using questionnaires and Focus group discussions (FGDs). Quantitative data was ana-lyzed using STATA and reported as frequencies while qualitative data was recorded, tran-scribed and relevant themes reported. A total of 370 participants between 18-35 years were recruited for the study. Community knowledge level on HL was high for congenital anoma-lies (77.3%), drugs (77%), infections like measles (84.3%) and excessive phone use (92.7%). A few participants attributed HL to cultural factors like witchcraft (45.1%). The majority of participants had favourable attitudes towards PWHL agreeing that PWHL should seek medi-cal care (95.1%), shouldn’t be isolated (95.1%) and also face unique social problems. Unfa-vourable attitudes included the belief that PWHL cannot perform as well as their hearing peers and that they are emotionally disturbed. The study revealed a community knowledgea-ble on HL causes but with limited appreciation of the capabilities and unique challenges of PWHL which negatively influences the community attitude towards PWHL

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