Mothers' perceptions of universal newborn hearing screening in transitional Albania

PLoS One. 2020 Aug 21;15(8):e0237815. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237815. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

The universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) component of the multi-center EUSCREEN project is being piloted in Albania since January 1st 2018. The aim of this study was to explore mothers' perceptions about various elements of UNHS in Albania. A cross-sectional study was carried out in the three sites of UNHS in Albania, namely in Tirana, Kukës and Pogradec during May-June 2019. During this period 512 consecutively approached mothers giving birth to included maternity hospitals were interviewed face-to-face about different aspects of UNHS. Basic socio-demographic and socioeconomic information was also collected. Mean age of participating mothers was 28.6 years ± 5.5 years. The overwhelming majority (93%) of mothers knew what their baby was being tested for, 33% were aware that hearing screening was offered in maternity hospital, 94% were very satisfied/satisfied with UNHS and about 62% were very stressed/stressed waiting for screening results, with significant sociodemographic and socioeconomic differences. The main information source about UNHS was screening staff in the maternity hospitals where mothers gave birth, reported in 67% of cases. All mothers (100%) agreed on the importance of early detection of newborn hearing problems, all mothers were willing to be informed early if their newborn baby had a hearing problem and all mothers were willing to contribute financially for testing the hearing of their newborn baby. These findings should guide information and education campaigns about UNHS in Albania. The public willingness to financially support neonatal hearing testing should be considered as an opportunity to achieve universal newborn hearing screening in the country.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Albania
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Demography
  • Female
  • Hearing Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Hearing Tests
  • Hospitals, Maternity
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Mothers / psychology*
  • Mothers / statistics & numerical data
  • Neonatal Screening*
  • Personal Satisfaction
  • Pregnancy
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Grants and funding

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 733352. This study sponsor had no role in the study design, or the collection, analysis and interpretation of the data or in the writing of the report or in the decision to submit the article for publication.