Nine years after implementation : maternal knowledge and attitudes to universal newborn hearing screening in Hong Kong

Abstract

To facilitate early diagnosis of infants with hearing loss, the universal newborn hearing screening program (UNHS) has been implemented in Hong Kong’s public hospitals for over nine years. However, there have been no known studies investigating parents’ attitudes to and satisfaction with UNHS since its launch in Hong Kong. The present study aimed to investigate knowledge of UNHS and infant hearing development, and attitudes and satisfaction with UNHS, in Hong Kong mothers with newborns. The study was designed to help evaluate and improve UNHS in Hong Kong public hospitals based on the perspectives of service users. A researcher-developed questionnaire was administered to 102 mothers whose newborn had received UNHS in postnatal wards of a large public hospital in Hong Kong. Participants’ mean scores on knowledge of infant hearing development were low (M = 2.59 / 6.0, S.D. = 0.90). Many mothers also underestimated the potential risks of hearing impairment in babies. Around 80% of mothers thought the infant definitely could not have hearing impairment after passing the screening. In addition, one-third of mothers thought the baby could not develop hearing impairment in infancy or childhood. In terms of attitudes and satisfaction, participants gave negative ratings for questions regarding receiving sufficient information about the screening (M = 2.90 / 5.0, S.D. = 1.27), screening procedure (M = 2.20 / 5.0, S.D. = 1.08), and sufficiency of information about results (M = 2.87 / 5.0, S.D. = 1.14). Nonetheless, participants gave positive ratings concerning whether screening could lead to early diagnosis (M = 4.61 / 5.0, S.D. = 0.57). Over 95% of mothers supported UNHS despite possibility of false positive results or possible unavailability of treatment for children with mild or unilateral hearing loss. The perceived effect of UNHS on worry (M = 1.40 / 5.0, S.D. = 0.69), anxiety (M = 1.41 / 5.0, S.D. = 0.72), and parent-child relationship (M = 1.43 / 5.0, S.D. = 0.57) was also low. Mothers also reported high willingness to bring the baby to follow-up assessments if required (M = 4.53 / 5.0, S.D. = 0.56). Participants made positive ratings for their level of satisfaction with the time and location of first UNHS information provision (M = 4.34 / 5.0, S.D. = 0.80) and the way permission was asked for screening the baby (M = 4.04 / 5.0, S.D. = 0.97) but alternative measures were also recommended. Most recommendations focused on providing more information about the test and a more detailed explanation of the results. The survey results highlighted the need to provide more information to parents about infant hearing development to support home monitoring for signs of hearing loss after UNHS, more detailed explanation and information regarding hearing screening and the implications of results to parents.