The rate of hearing loss caused by wax impaction is most common in low- and middle-income countries, with the resulting hearing loss typically being of the conductive kind. This study focused on the prevalence of wax and related factors among primary school learners in Lilongwe, Malawi. The screening procedures was done using otoscope, tympanometer and audiometer. The study was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The study used a random sample of one hundred and fifty learners from six public primary schools; three from rural and three from urban. The results showed that fifty-one learners had wax (34 %) of the total sample and ninety nine learners had no wax (66%), with a relatively small mean age (M=13.43, SD=2.15). It also showed that there is no significant difference of wax prevalence between urban and rural public schools but the use of cotton buds is the preferred method used in urban with 38.7%, while matchstick is commonly used in rural areas with 34.7%. Wax impaction is a common ear problem among primary school learners in Lilongwe. There is no significant difference of wax impaction between urban and rural public primary schools. The study recommended that awareness, screening programmes and routine otoscopy should be done in primary schools.

ABREVIATIONS     

AOM – Acute Otitis Media

CHL – Conductive Hearing Loss

CSOM – Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media

dB – Decibel

EAC – External Auditory Canal

ENT – Ear Nose and Throat

FB- Foreign Body

LMICs – Low- and Middle-Income Country

MHL-Mixed Healing Loss

MOH – Ministry of Health

NGO – Non-Government Organization

OPD – Out Patient Department

PTA – Pure Tone Audiometry

SNHL – Sensorineural Hearing Loss

TM – Tympanic Membrane

WHA – World Health Assembly

WHO – World Health Organization

Download the full Research Work: Bickiel, R. (2022). Wax Prevalence and Related Factors among Primary School Learners in Lilongwe, Malawi. SAERA – School of Advanced Education, Research and Accreditation