A Survey of the Knowledge and Attitudes of First-Time Pregnant Women Regarding Infant Hearing Loss

ObjectivesThe aim of the present study was to investigate the knowledge and attitudes of first-time pregnant women regarding hearing loss in infants, and to identify the key factors that influence their perceptions.MethodsAfter validating and ensuring the reliability of a well-structured questionnaire consisting of 15 items, it was distributed to a total of 400 pregnant women who were experiencing their first pregnancies. Utilizing a cluster sampling method, participants were selected from both public hospitals and private gynecologist offices across diverse geographic regions in Tehran, Iran. Participants were asked to respond on a three-point scale (No, Not Sure, Yes). The results were analyzed using both descriptive and analytic statistics.ResultsThe translated questionnaire exhibited suitable face validity, test-retest reliability, and internal consistency. Findings revealed the highest maternal knowledge for "newborns can be born with hearing loss "(77.5%) and the lowest knowledge score was observed for "delayed birth cry can lead to hearing loss" (23.8%). Regarding attitudes, 72.5% of mothers scored above the mean of 5.65 out of 6, indicating a preference for early diagnosis and intervention. Several factors, such as education level and the mother's city of residence, showed a significant correlation with certain knowledge and attitude-related questions. Notably, individuals receiving care at public hospitals showed greater knowledge compared to those visiting private clinics.Conclusions for PracticeMothers play a crucial role in child health and need to have a thorough understanding of pediatric diseases in order to make informed decisions. One particular condition that mothers should be well-informed about is hearing loss, as it has a significant impact on language development. However, this study reveals that there are gaps in maternal knowledge when it comes to the specific causes of hearing loss. Multiple studies have been conducted so far, particularly among mothers that have examined individuals' attitudes and knowledge about newborn hearing loss and the factors that contribute to it. However, this study looks into Iranian mothers' attitudes regarding screening and hearing aids, as well as their awareness about hearing loss and its risk factors, and it compares these findings to earlier research. This study, consistent with prior research, highlights the importance of raising awareness about hearing loss, particularly among mothers in low- and middle-income countries.