Age of detection of congenital hearing loss in South Africa: A systematic review

Background: Newborn hearing screening is the most important step towards early intervention of congenital or early-onset hearing loss (HL) and has the potential to optimise patient outcomes. Yet, literature on the age of identification of this HL in South Africa (SA) is sparse. Aim: To determine th...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mukovhe Phanguphangu, Khomotjo Kgare, Andrew J. Ross
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Public Health in Africa
Subjects:
Online Access:https://publichealthinafrica.org/index.php/jphia/article/view/777
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1823858220405358592
author Mukovhe Phanguphangu
Khomotjo Kgare
Andrew J. Ross
author_facet Mukovhe Phanguphangu
Khomotjo Kgare
Andrew J. Ross
author_sort Mukovhe Phanguphangu
collection DOAJ
description Background: Newborn hearing screening is the most important step towards early intervention of congenital or early-onset hearing loss (HL) and has the potential to optimise patient outcomes. Yet, literature on the age of identification of this HL in South Africa (SA) is sparse. Aim: To determine the age of identification of congenital HL from published studies in SA. Setting: The study was conducted in SA. Methods: This was a systematic review conducted during April 2024 – June 2024 across the following databases: PubMed, EBSCO, Web of Science and Scopus. A random effects (RE) model meta-analysis was conducted using STATA version 18. Statistical tests conducted include meta-summary statistics and RE meta-analysis. Results: Ten studies, with a total of 1501 children, were included in this review. The computed Q-test of homogeneity was 5870.97 and the pooled mean age of identification was 30 months (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 19.3–41.3). Conclusion: These findings show that congenital or early-onset HL in SA is identified later than the national and international standards, that is, 1 month of age. These findings are important for future research, priority setting and implementation of strategies to reduce the burden and impact of HL. Future research investigating the barriers to early detection of HL in SA is recommended. Furthermore, the implementation of evidence-based interventions to lower the age of identification of congenital HL to enable its early detection and intervention in this age group is recommended. Contribution: This study highlights the need to strengthen preventative programmes for paediatric HL in SA.
format Article
id doaj-art-b489dce436604ce08ac6e31f1c7a0fe9
institution Kabale University
issn 2038-9922
2038-9930
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher AOSIS
record_format Article
series Journal of Public Health in Africa
spelling doaj-art-b489dce436604ce08ac6e31f1c7a0fe92025-02-11T13:24:50ZengAOSISJournal of Public Health in Africa2038-99222038-99302025-01-01161e1e810.4102/jphia.v16i1.777785Age of detection of congenital hearing loss in South Africa: A systematic reviewMukovhe Phanguphangu0Khomotjo Kgare1Andrew J. Ross2Department of Family Medicine, School of Nursing and Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, DurbanDepartment of Rehabilitative Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Fort Hare, East LondonDepartment of Family Medicine, School of Nursing and Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, DurbanBackground: Newborn hearing screening is the most important step towards early intervention of congenital or early-onset hearing loss (HL) and has the potential to optimise patient outcomes. Yet, literature on the age of identification of this HL in South Africa (SA) is sparse. Aim: To determine the age of identification of congenital HL from published studies in SA. Setting: The study was conducted in SA. Methods: This was a systematic review conducted during April 2024 – June 2024 across the following databases: PubMed, EBSCO, Web of Science and Scopus. A random effects (RE) model meta-analysis was conducted using STATA version 18. Statistical tests conducted include meta-summary statistics and RE meta-analysis. Results: Ten studies, with a total of 1501 children, were included in this review. The computed Q-test of homogeneity was 5870.97 and the pooled mean age of identification was 30 months (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 19.3–41.3). Conclusion: These findings show that congenital or early-onset HL in SA is identified later than the national and international standards, that is, 1 month of age. These findings are important for future research, priority setting and implementation of strategies to reduce the burden and impact of HL. Future research investigating the barriers to early detection of HL in SA is recommended. Furthermore, the implementation of evidence-based interventions to lower the age of identification of congenital HL to enable its early detection and intervention in this age group is recommended. Contribution: This study highlights the need to strengthen preventative programmes for paediatric HL in SA.https://publichealthinafrica.org/index.php/jphia/article/view/777age of detectioncongenitalearly-onsethearing lossearly hearing detection and interventionuniversal newborn hearing screening
spellingShingle Mukovhe Phanguphangu
Khomotjo Kgare
Andrew J. Ross
Age of detection of congenital hearing loss in South Africa: A systematic review
Journal of Public Health in Africa
age of detection
congenital
early-onset
hearing loss
early hearing detection and intervention
universal newborn hearing screening
title Age of detection of congenital hearing loss in South Africa: A systematic review
title_full Age of detection of congenital hearing loss in South Africa: A systematic review
title_fullStr Age of detection of congenital hearing loss in South Africa: A systematic review
title_full_unstemmed Age of detection of congenital hearing loss in South Africa: A systematic review
title_short Age of detection of congenital hearing loss in South Africa: A systematic review
title_sort age of detection of congenital hearing loss in south africa a systematic review
topic age of detection
congenital
early-onset
hearing loss
early hearing detection and intervention
universal newborn hearing screening
url https://publichealthinafrica.org/index.php/jphia/article/view/777
work_keys_str_mv AT mukovhephanguphangu ageofdetectionofcongenitalhearinglossinsouthafricaasystematicreview
AT khomotjokgare ageofdetectionofcongenitalhearinglossinsouthafricaasystematicreview
AT andrewjross ageofdetectionofcongenitalhearinglossinsouthafricaasystematicreview