Burden of disease: A scoping review of HIV/AIDS and TB in occupational noise-induced hearing loss

Abstract

Background: Occupational noise-induced hearing loss (ONIHL) does not occur in isolation from other influencing factors such as health conditions and illnesses like human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV and AIDS), as well as tuberculosis (TB). How the burden of disease influences the occurrence and/or management of ONIHL becomes a key if the goal of hearing conservation programmes (HCPs) is to be achieved within these contexts.Objectives: The purpose of this scoping review was to conduct an investigation on how the burden of disease’s influence on ONIHL is reported in literature, with a specific focus on the most prevalent diseases in South African mines – HIV and AIDS and TB.Method: A scoping review was conducted using the Arksey and O’Malley’s framework. A search was conducted in five electronic bibliographic databases and the grey literature.Results: The search procured 10 publications, with two specific to ONIHL within the South African context. In addition to the two publications specific to TB and ONIHL, findings revealed a serious gap in the evidence around the scoping review question globally. This obvious lack of investigations into the influence of these two conditions in the South African mining context raises serious implications about the responsiveness, and proactive nature of HCPs within this population.Conclusion: Considering the burden of diseases on otology and audiology is critical as certain diseases cause hearing impairment either as a primary effect, as a secondary/opportunistic effect or as a side effect of treatment options for that disease. An employee suffering from any such disease with concomitant exposure to hazardous noise levels presents an even bigger challenge to HCPs if such is not taken into consideration in the conception, implementation and monitoring of HCPs.

Social determinants of health in non-communicable diseases prevention policies in South Africa

“…Tangiisuran et al (2009) reported that not all nurses, pharmacists, clinicians or patients have the capacity to accurately recognise adverse drug reactions for numerous reasons, including expectations, education and previous experience, and this observation is true for ototoxicity in the South African context (Bardien et al 2009;De Andrade et al 2009;Govender et al 2020 Wium & Gerber 2016). With ototoxicity in the elderly, this reality is additionally obscured by the presentation of ototoxicity, which is often non-specific and atypical or presents similarly to other common causes of hearing loss such as ONIHL or presbycusis, where the symptoms might be understood as a primary rather than secondary diagnosis that is a result of medication , 2020c. Rochon and Gurwitz (1997) cautioned about the challenge caused by this inability to identify adverse drug reactions precisely and differentiate drug-induced symptoms from a conclusive medical diagnosis, in that it leads to the prescription of yet additional drugs to manage the symptoms, which raises adverse drug reactions and drug-drug interactions, referred to as 'the prescribing cascade'.…”

Complexities with context: Cultural and linguistic diversity challenges in preventive audiology in Africa

“…Tangiisuran et al (2009) reported that not all nurses, pharmacists, clinicians or patients have the capacity to accurately recognise adverse drug reactions for numerous reasons, including expectations, education and previous experience, and this observation is true for ototoxicity in the South African context (Bardien et al 2009;De Andrade et al 2009;Govender et al 2020 Wium & Gerber 2016). With ototoxicity in the elderly, this reality is additionally obscured by the presentation of ototoxicity, which is often non-specific and atypical or presents similarly to other common causes of hearing loss such as ONIHL or presbycusis, where the symptoms might be understood as a primary rather than secondary diagnosis that is a result of medication , 2020c. Rochon and Gurwitz (1997) cautioned about the challenge caused by this inability to identify adverse drug reactions precisely and differentiate drug-induced symptoms from a conclusive medical diagnosis, in that it leads to the prescription of yet additional drugs to manage the symptoms, which raises adverse drug reactions and drug-drug interactions, referred to as 'the prescribing cascade'.…”

An Analysis of Risk Factors for Hearing Function in Adults Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Gauteng, South Africa

“…Current reports suggest that there is approximately 40 million people living with HIV globally, with LMICs continuing to be the epicenter for the pandemic. In countries such as South Africa, HIV contribute to burden of diseases [ 2 ] and forms part of the quadruple burden of diseases [ 3 ], over and above a dilapidated health system [ 4 ], high levels of unemployment rates and poverty [ 5 ].…”