Awareness of Ear Health Care among Urban City Residents, in South‑South, Nigeria

Background: Exposure to Sound Pressure Levels (SPL) above 85 dB over 8 hours is potentially damaging to the ears. Unfortunately, many people may be unaware of the adverse effects of such SPL on the ear and quality of life. The level of awareness of hearing test has not been adequately determined in our region, a developing world. Some even seek ear care from unauthorized facilities and persons who often recommended inappropriate medications and treatment. The objectives of this study were to assess specifically the respondents’ level of awareness of sound levels that could cause hearing loss, determine the number of respondents who have had a hearing test, and the sources of ear healthcare among residents in an urban city in South-South, Nigeria. Participants and Methods: An interviewee‑administered questionnaire under three sections: socio‑demographics; awareness of  damaging sound levels and their sources; hearing testing and ear health care was used to collect data from 274 consenting respondents. Data were analyzed using IBM Statistical Product and Service Solution version 26.0. Results were presented on frequencies, percentages, tables, and figures. A P ≤ 0.05% was considered statistically significant at a 5% level of significance. Results: The respondents were aged between 10 and 74 years, and a median age of 24 years. Most 202 (73.7%) were males, while 72 (26.3%) were females, with male: female = 2.8:1. The greater proportion 223 (81.4%) were single; 177 (64.6%) were students; 16 (5.8%) were unemployed and 21 (7.7%) civil servants. Of the 274 consenting participants, only 79 (28.8%) were aware that the numerical value of noise level above 85 dB could cause damage to hearing. Only a small proportion with tertiary education 28 (10.2%) reported having had a hearing test. All the respondents in occupations prone to high levels of noise never had a hearing test. There was a statistically significant association between the types of ear drop/substance used by respondents and the attendant health personnel (P = 0.0001). Conclusion/Recommendation: There is poor awareness of ear health care among urban city dwellers in Calabar, South‑South, Nigeria. Most young adults aged 20–29 years were aware that loud noise is hazardous to hearing. Generally, there was ignorance on objective numerical noise levels for hazard; the importance of hearing testing; and utilization of appropriate ear care facilities for treatment of ear diseases. Public health education on appropriate ear healthcare is highly recommended. Keywords: Ear Health care Practices, Hearing Test, Sound level

Awareness of Noise‑Induced Hearing Loss among Residents in a Metropolitan City in South‑South Nigeria

Background: Exposure to loud noise and its attendant health and social effects is a public health problem. Its significance has not been adequatelydetermined in developing countries. Noise-induced hearing loss is permanent and can be acquired at home, schools, concerts, churches, mosques,sporting events, and at workplaces. The objective of this study is to assess respondents’ awareness of noise‑induced hearing loss, experientialsymptoms and sources of noise pollution in a Metropolitan City in South-South, Nigeria. Methods: Across‑sectional descriptive study using interviewee questionnaire was employed. The respondents comprising of secondary school pupils, undergraduates, tricycle riders, and staff of the tertiary institution who participated at awareness campaign programs on World Hearing Day, World Family Day, and at a religious crusade ground in a tertiary institutions. Data were analyzed using IBM statistical product and service solution version 26.0. Results: There were 274 respondents, age range from 10 to 74 years, 73.7% (n = 202) were male and 26.3% (n = 72) female, male:female = 2.8:1. The overall level of noise‑induced hearing loss (NIHL) awareness was 69.34% (n = 190). The greater proportion of respondents 236 (86.13%) knew thatexcessive noise could cause hearing loss. The common symptoms experienced by the respondents were 147 (53.6%) hyperacusis and tinnitus 142 (51.8%). Conclusion/Recommendation: Awareness it NIHL was greater among male, undergraduates between the ages of 20 and 29 years. Children’s toys were poorly reported as a source of noise. There was poor awareness of the incurable nature of NIHL. A continuous public health education on sources and prevention of NIHL is advocated for early evaluation and intervention. Keywords: Awareness, hearing loss, noise‑induced, sources, symptom

Prevalence and awareness of noise induced hearing loss in two factories in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria

Noise above a certain acceptable level or sustained noise may cause damage to the ears. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence and level of awareness of noise induced hearing loss in Calabar. Seventy-five workers from two noise  producing companies, in Calabar- Flour mill and Wartsilla were chosen for this study. An author administered questionnaire was used to record sociodermographic data, occupation, access to ear protection, number of working years, etc; Rhine’s test, Webers test, otoscopy and pure tone audiometry were done for each of the participants. Workers in the generator house, loading bay and production plant were regarded as noise exposed workers while others were non-noise exposed. Forty-one of the noise exposed workers in flour mill (66.83%) had mild hearing loss and ten (16.66%) had moderate loss. In Wartsilla, twenty six workers (50.98%) of the noise exposed workers had mild hearing loss and six(11.76%) had moderate loss. Three non- noise exposed workers in each of the companies also had mild hearing loss. 40% of the participants never heard about ear protection devices; 60%, knew about them. 50% had seen them and 30% felt better using them.Keywords: Awareness, hearing loss, prevalence, Calaba

Ear nose and throat changes observed in pregnancy in Calabar Nigeria

This paper studies changes observed in pregnant women at the 3 stages of pregnancy in Calabar. Eighty pregnant women and eighty non-pregnant women were used. Most signs and symptoms occurred more in the first trimester while others occurred more in the third trimester. Vomiting, loss of appetite, excess salivation, Nausea gastro – esophageal reflux, fever, headaches otomycosis were predominant in our study

Paucity of HPV-Related Head and Neck Cancers (HNC) in Nigeria

Introduction: The burden of HPV-related Head and Neck Cancers (HNC) has been rising in the U.S. and other developed countries but this trend has not been reported in Africa. Objective of study was to evaluate the prevalence of HPV infection in HNC cancer cases seen between 1990 and 2011 at the tertiary health care institutions in Nigeria. Methods: We retrieved 149 head and neck cancer formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tumor specimens diagnosed between 1990 and 2011 from four teaching hospitals in Nigeria. One hundred and twenty-three blocks (83%) contained appropriate HNC for analysis while DNA extraction was successful in 60% (90/149). PCR amplification was successful in 33% (49/149) and Linear Array genotyping for HPV was successful in 11% (17/149) of these cases. These were in tumors from the larynx (6), cervical lymph nodes (3), nasal cavity (2), parotid (1), palate (1), maxillary sinus (1) and mandible (1). Two cases were non-specific and none were from the oropharynx. Histologically, 41% (7/17) of the successfully genotyped blocks were squamous cell carcinomas (larynx 6, maxillary sinus 1). Results and Conclusion We were unable to detect HPV in any of the HNC samples in our study. Our result may suggest that there is a low prevalence of HPV-related HNC among the adult population in Nigeria. Our results provide a benchmark to compare future incidence of HPV -related HNC in this community in future. We had significant analytical challenges from possible poor tissue processing and urge that future studies should prospectively collect samples and ensure high quality sample processing

Distribution by Anatomical Site and Pathological Diagnosis of Final Sample (n = 17).

<p>Distribution by Anatomical Site and Pathological Diagnosis of Final Sample (n = 17).</p

General Characteristics of Samples Tested for HBV DNA (n = 17).

<p>General Characteristics of Samples Tested for HBV DNA (n = 17).</p

Outcomes of Molecular Analysis.

<p>Outcomes of Molecular Analysis.</p