mHealth-supported hearing health training for early childhood development practitioners : an intervention study

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Authors

Du Plessis, Divan
Mahomed-Asmail, Faheema
Le Roux, Talita
Graham, Marien Alet
De Kock, Tersia
Van der Linde, Jeannie
Swanepoel, De Wet

Journal Title

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Publisher

MDPI

Abstract

(1) Hearing health training and promotion is a priority for early childhood development (ECD) practitioners, but training opportunities are limited, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). mHealth (mobile health) has the potential to deliver scalable ear and hearing training to ECD practitioners. (2) This study investigated the effect of an mHealth training intervention program for ECD practitioners to improve knowledge and perceptions of hearing health in young children. An experimental one-group, pre-post-test study included ECD practitioners working with children between birth and 6 years old across 31 neighbouring communities in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. Hearing health training was provided using WhatsApp messages that encompassed infographics and voice notes. Knowledge and perceptions regarding hearing and hearing-related problems in children were surveyed pre-training, directly post training, and 6 months post training. (3) ECD practitioners (N = 1012) between 17 and 71 years of age received the mHealth training program and completed both the pre-and post-training surveys. Overall, knowledge scores indicated a significant improvement from pre- to post training (Z = 22.49; p < 0.001). Six-month post-training knowledge scores were sustained. Content analysis of ECD practitioners’ application of the training information 6 months post training indicated improved awareness, practical application, better assistance for hearing problems, and widespread advocacy. (4) The mHealth training program supports improved knowledge and perceptions of ECD practitioners regarding hearing health for young children. With improved knowledge scores maintained 6 months post training, mHealth hearing health training is an effective intervention. An mHealth training program for ECD practitioners provides a scalable, low-cost intervention for primary and secondary prevention in childhood hearing loss, especially in LMICs.

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DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT : The authors can be contacted to access the data.

Keywords

Mobile health (mHealth), Community-based, Telecare, Hearing health, Education and training, Intervention, Early childhood development (ECD), SDG-03: Good health and well-being, SDG-04: Quality education, Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)

Sustainable Development Goals

Citation

Du Plessis, D.; Mahomed-Asmail, F.; Le Roux, T.; Graham, M.A.; De Kock, T.; van der Linde, J.; Swanepoel, D.W. mHealth-Supported Hearing Health Training for Early Childhood Development Practitioners: An Intervention Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2022, 19, 14228. https://DOI.org/10.3390/ijerph192114228.