# Knowledge, perception, and satisfaction of postpartum women about newborn hearing screening in two private Brazilian maternity hospitals

## TL;DR

This study found that many Brazilian postpartum women lack knowledge about newborn hearing screening, despite its importance and high satisfaction rates.

## Contribution

The study identifies factors associated with lack of knowledge about newborn hearing screening in a private hospital setting in Brazil.

## Key findings

- Nearly 42% of postpartum women had no prior knowledge about the hearing test.
- Primiparity, lack of prenatal information, and no family history of hearing loss were linked to lack of knowledge.
- Almost all participants found the test very important and were highly satisfied with it.

## Abstract

To assess the knowledge, perception, and satisfaction of postpartum women about newborn hearing screening and investigate factors associated with lack of knowledge about the test.

Cross-sectional analytical study conducted in two private Brazilian maternity hospitals. Participants were postpartum women with newborn infants eligible for hearing screening. After the hearing test, they answered an anonymous written questionnaire to assess their knowledge about, perception of, and satisfaction with the test. The characteristics of participants with and without knowledge about the test were compared using the Chi-square test. Variables with P <0.20 were included in the logistic regression.

The study included 470 postpartum women (74.1% had a university degree). Nearly 42% (n=195) had no prior knowledge about the test. Among those with prior knowledge, the main sources of information were having a previous child who had undergone the test (50.5%), and family/friends (26.2%). Primiparity (aOR 5.01, 95% CI 3.27-7.69), lack of information about the test during antenatal care (aOR 3.67, 95% CI 2.01-6.70), and no family member with hearing loss (aOR 2.00, 95% CI 1.16-3.47) were variables associated with the lack of knowledge about the test. Almost all participants (98.7%) perceived the test as very important, and 94.3% were totally satisfied with it.

Even though newborn hearing screening became mandatory in Brazil over a decade ago, a large proportion of postpartum women in two private hospitals had no prior knowledge about the test. However, the vast majority perceive the test as very important and are highly satisfied with it.

Avaliar o conhecimento, percepção e satisfação de puérperas em relação à triagem auditiva neonatal e investigar fatores associados ao desconhecimento do exame.

Estudo transversal analítico realizado em duas maternidades privadas brasileiras. As participantes eram puérperas com recém-nascidos elegíveis para o exame. Após a realização da triagem auditiva, elas responderam a um questionário impresso anônimo com perguntas sobre seu conhecimento, percepção e satisfação com o exame. As características das participantes com e sem conhecimento do exame foram comparadas usando o teste do Qui-quadrado. As variáveis com P <0.20 foram incluídas no modelo de regressão multivariada.

O estudo incluiu 470 puérperas (74,1% com nível superior completo). Cerca de 42% (n=195) não tinham nenhum conhecimento prévio sobre o exame. Entre as que tinham algum conhecimento prévio, as principais fontes de informação eram a realização do mesmo exame em outro filho (50,5%) e familiares/amigos (26,2%). Ser primípara (ORa 5,01, IC 95% 3,27-7,69), não ter recebido informações sobre o exame durante o pré-natal (ORa 3,67, IC 95% 2,01-6,70) e não ter familiar com perda auditiva (ORa 2,00, IC 95% 1,16-3,47) foram variáveis associadas ao desconhecimento do exame. Quase todas participantes (98,7%) atribuíram grande importância ao exame e 94,3% estavam totalmente satisfeitas com o mesmo.

Apesar da triagem auditiva neonatal ter se tornado obrigatória no Brasil há mais de uma década, uma grande proporção das puérperas atendidas em duas maternidades privadas desconhecia o exame. Porém quase todas percebem o exame como muito importante e relatam alto grau de satisfação com sua realização.