This study explored health and education professionals' perceptions of the health benefits and barriers of different ear health programs used in lower primary school classes in two district education areas in the Goldfields South East Health Region, Western Australia. Health and education staff providing services to children in kindergarten to year three primary school classes were sent a questionnaire about ear health programs provided in their school. Sixty-one questionnaires were returned from 43 teachers, 14 community health nurses, three Aboriginal health workers and one teacher's assistant. Some schools implemented all the ear health programs examined at all year levels while others implemented only one of the programs. Teachers, community health nurses and Aboriginal health workers identified that all ear health programs were beneficial to students. Reported physical health benefits included reduced ear infections, early detection of ear infections and improved hearing. Behavioural benefits included improved concentration, alertness and attention in the classroom. Barriers to implementing the programs were obtaining consent from parents/carers, student transience and attendance, time to implement and conduct the programs and human and physical resources. Evaluation methods used varied from no evaluation for the Breathe Blow Cough and tissue spearing programs to limited data collection for audiometry, otoscopy and ear toilet programs. Respondents perceived that ear health programs were effective in improving health and behavioural outcomes for children. A formal pre-post evaluation to provide objective data to confirm this is needed to inform policy around this important health issue.
Aim
Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children in rural/remote areas suffer high rates of persistent otitis media (OM) from early infancy. We aimed to determine the proportion of Aboriginal infants living in an urban area who have OM and investigate associated risk factors.
Methods
Between 2017 and 2020, the Djaalinj Waakinj cohort study enrolled 125 Aboriginal infants at 0–12 weeks of age in the Perth South Metropolitan region, Western Australia. Proportion of children with OM based on tympanometry at ages 2, 6 and 12 months was evaluated, type B tympanogram indicating middle ear effusion. Potential risk factors were investigated by logistic regression with generalised estimating equations.
Results
The proportion of children with OM was 35% (29/83) at 2 months, 49% (34/70) at 6 months and 49% (33/68) at 12 months of age. About 70% (16/23) of those with OM at ages 2 and/or 6 months had OM at 12 months compared with 20% (3/15) if no prior OM (relative risk = 3.48, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.22–40.1). On multivariate analysis, infants living in houses with ≥1 person/room were at increased risk of OM (odds ratio = 1.78, 95% CI: 0.96–3.32).
Conclusion
Approximately half of Aboriginal infants enrolled into the South Metropolitan Perth project have OM by the age of 6 months and early onset of disease strongly predicts subsequent OM. Early surveillance for OM in urban areas is needed for early detection and management to reduce the risk of long‐term hearing loss which can have serious developmental, social, behavioural, educational and economic consequences.
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