A recent study conducted by the Menzies School of Health Research has highlighted significant shortcomings in ear health services available in remote Northern Territory (NT) communities in Australia. The research, published in BMC Health Services Research, sheds light on deficiencies in the surveillance and treatment of otitis media (OM).
It’s been reported that Australian First Nations children exhibit the world’s highest rates of OM. In some surveys conducted in remote communities, as many as 90% of young Aboriginal children have been identified as having OM, potentially leading to hearing loss.
Without interventions, persistent OM can cause hearing loss, developmental delays and reduced academic achievement.
Image credit: Menzies School of Health Research
Study Findings – Low Compliance, Lost Opportunities
Researchers reviewed clinical records of more than 6,000 children under 16 across 50 health clinics between 2014 and 2018. The analysis revealed concerning statistics: on average, fewer than 60% of kids underwent ear examinations within a six-month period.
Among those examined, 36% showed signs of some form of otitis media (OM). However, treatment follow-ups were documented for only about 25%, despite approximately 90% requiring immediate or scheduled care.
These patterns highlight significant noncompliance with established guidelines for managing OM in First Nations communities. The data illustrates persistent missed opportunities to address the remarkably high rates of OM and consequent hearing loss resulting from untreated infections.
Failing to take decisive action could have long-lasting adverse effects on children’s language, learning, and overall quality of life for years to come.
Bridging Gaps Through Community-Based Solutions
Seeking solutions, Menzies now leads the Hearing for Learning Initiative (HfLI) under Principal Investigator Professor Amanda Leach. HfLI trials a community-level service enhancement model across 18 remote sites. The program trains and employs local Ear Health Facilitators to liaise between clinics and specialists. Goals include building reliable, sustainable, culturally appropriate infrastructure that supports consistent ear and hearing surveillance.
As Study co-author Dr. Jiunn-Yih Su of Menzies states:
“In remote Aboriginal communities in the NT, many children suffer early and persisting otitis media from just a few weeks of age… These findings reveal many missed opportunities to control high rates of otitis media and to reduce Aboriginal children’s risk of hearing impairment.”
Through local workforce expansion and improvement methodology, HfLI aims to curb OM prevalence by ensuring “every ear of every child is healthy and hearing every day.”
Early data proves promising, with enhanced diagnosis and prescription fill rates already observed.
Over the long-term, connecting communities to consistent ear care promises significant educational and quality of life benefits.
Reference:
- Jiunn-Yih Su et al (2023) An evaluation of the quality of ear health services for Aboriginal children living in remote Australia: a cascade of care analysis, BMC Health Services Research. DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-10152-z
