Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Otitis Media amongst Children Aged 0–48 Months in Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

Acute Otitis media (AOM), an inflammation of the middle ear, is a common infection in children worldwide. It poses significant health challenges as it is the leading cause of hearing loss. This paper therefore investigate the prevalence and risk factors associated with Otitis media amongst 120 children aged 0–48 months attending hospital in Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria. Ear swab specimens were collected using sterile swab sticks for bacterial isolation and identification. Information on sociodemographic and potential risk factors associated with otitis media was obtained from parents of the children via questionnaire. Streptococcus pneumoniae (20%) and Staphylococcus aureus (18.3%) were the major causative agents of AOM. The prevalence of AOM was found to be higher among male children (54.2%) than females (45.8%) in the age group 0-12 months. The highest rate of occurrence was found among children whose mothers had low socioeconomic status (61.7%), low educational level (45.8%), unemployed (71.7%), use bottle-feeding method (52.5%), procumbent position during feeding (81.7%), use cotton buds for ear cleaning (80%), poor feeding hygiene (56.7%) as well as children who have not taken pneumococcal vaccine (68.3%), and those with symptoms related to respiratory tract infections (78.3%). In conclusion, AOM is highly prevalent in Adamawa majorly affecting children less than one year. The main predisposing factors are bottle feeding, procumbent feeding position, poor hygiene, not vaccinating, use of cotton bud and upper respiratory tract infections. There is a need to inform mothers about the risk factors associated with AOM.