An analytical study of prevalence of ear disorders and their risk factors among children in a resettlement colony of Delhi

Abstract

Background: The world has more than 360 million population (almost 5% of world’s population) with disabling hearing loss and among them, 32 million are children. It is estimated that over 166 million people in the developing world face a severe lack of intervention services for hearing loss. There is a need to estimate the magnitude of various ear morbidities in school age children as well as to identify the various risk factors that play a role in the emergence of these morbidities. Aim: To find prevalence of various ear disorders and their risk factors among children 5-11 years old. Methodology: It was a cross-sectional, community based study conducted at a resettlement colony named Gokulpuri, in East Delhi. Study was conducted for a period of one year, Jan 2017 – Dec 2017. Children in the age group 5 yrs. to 11 yrs. were included in the study. Results: Total prevalence of ear morbidities in children was found to be 15.8%. Wax impaction in the ears was found to be most prevalent morbidity 10.6%. Educational status of mother and head of the family, immunization status of child, history of slapping trauma and coryza were among the associated risk factors. Exclusive breast feeding was statistically insignificantly associated