Associations of childhood hearing loss and adverse childhood experiences in deaf adults.

Childhood trauma and adverse childhood experiences have a strong relationship with health disparities across the lifespan. Despite experiencing approximately doubled rates of trauma, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are poorly characterized in deaf populations. We sought to characterize deaf-specific demographic factors and their association with multiple experiences of ACEs before the age of 18 years old. An analytical cross-sectional approach was used to ascertain associations of deaf-specific demographic factors and experiences with ACEs. The complete dataset included 520 participants for a total response rate of 56%. After adjusting for confounding effects, less severe hearing loss of 16-55 dB (2+ OR: 5.2, 4+ OR: 4.7), having a cochlear implant (2+ OR: 2.1, 4+ OR: 2.6), and not attending at least one school with signing access (2+ OR: 2.4, 4+ OR: 3.7) were significantly and independently associated with reported experiences of multiple ACEs. We conclude that factors associated with childhood hearing loss and language experiences increase risk of experiencing ACEs. Given the strong relationship between ACEs and poor social outcomes, early intervention clinical practice and health policies should consider interventions to support healthy home environments for deaf children.

Predictors of Secondhand Smoke Exposure During Pregnancy in Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, and Honduras.

INTRODUCTION: Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure poses risks to pregnant women and children. Though smoking among pregnant women in many low- and middle-income countries is low, exposure to SHS might be higher. We examined the prevalence and predictors of SHS among pregnant women from Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, and Honduras. METHODS: Postpartum women 18+ years old who completed pregnancy in past 5 years were surveyed in health care and community settings. RESULTS: Data for 1,081 women indicated low tobacco use (1.0%-3.7%), frequent exposure to active smokers (29.0%-34.0%), often being close enough to breathe others' smoke (49.4%-66.5%), and most having smoke-free home policies (70.8%-76.2%). Women reporting unintended pregnancy (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.44, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03, 2.00) and alcohol consumption (aOR: 1.92, 95% CI 1.34, 2.77) were more likely to be close enough to breathe others' smoke. Women with health problems during pregnancy (aOR: 1.48 95% CI 1.07, 2.06) were more likely to have home smoking policies. Tobacco use was associated with all SHS exposure outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: SHS exposure was high during pregnancy; women with higher risk variables, that is, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and unintended pregnancy were more likely to be exposed. Addressing SHS exposure in pregnancy in low- and middle-income countries can improve maternal health outcomes in vulnerable populations. IMPLICATIONS: The study results suggest a cluster of multiple risk factors associated with a high prevalence of exposure to SHS among pregnant women in LIMCs from Latin America and Caribbean Region. Interventions, regulations, and policies need to address specific high-risk factors to change behaviors and improve maternal and child health outcomes especially in vulnerable populations.

Considering parental hearing status as a social determinant of deaf population health: Insights from experiences of the "dinner table syndrome".

The influence of early language and communication experiences on lifelong health outcomes is receiving increased public health attention. Most deaf children have non-signing hearing parents, and are at risk for not experiencing fully accessible language environments, a possible factor underlying known deaf population health disparities. Childhood indirect family communication-such as spontaneous conversations and listening in the routine family environment (e.g. family meals, recreation, car rides)-is an important source of health-related contextual learning opportunities. The goal of this study was to assess the influence of parental hearing status on deaf people's recalled access to childhood indirect family communication. We analyzed data from the Rochester Deaf Health Survey-2013 (n = 211 deaf adults) for associations between sociodemographic factors including parental hearing status, and recalled access to childhood indirect family communication. Parental hearing status predicted deaf adults' recalled access to childhood indirect family communication (χ2 = 31.939, p < .001). The likelihood of deaf adults reporting "sometimes to never" for recalled comprehension of childhood family indirect communication increased by 17.6 times for those with hearing parents. No other sociodemographic or deaf-specific factors in this study predicted deaf adults' access to childhood indirect family communication. This study finds that deaf people who have hearing parents were more likely to report limited access to contextual learning opportunities during childhood. Parental hearing status and early childhood language experiences, therefore, require further investigation as possible social determinants of health to develop interventions that improve lifelong health and social outcomes of the underserved deaf population.

Influence of Hearing Loss on Child Behavioral and Home Experiences.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the influence of hearing loss on child behavioral diagnoses, and socioemotional and behavior status. METHODS: We analyzed US National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) child data, years 2011 to 2015, for associations between reported hearing loss and relevant NHIS items. RESULTS: Compared with hearing children, NHIS respondents with a deaf child were more likely to report developmental delays (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 11.1; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.8, 32.4), attention-deficit disorder (AOR = 3.1; 95% CI = 2.5, 3.9), autism diagnoses (AOR = 2.9; 95% CI = 1.8, 4.9), and minor to severe socioemotional difficulties (AOR = 3.9; 95% CI = 3.2, 4.7). When asked if their child was well behaved, respondents were more likely to reply "somewhat true" or "not true" (AOR = 2.7; 95% CI = 2.2, 3.4). CONCLUSIONS: Hearing loss increases likelihood of reporting child behavioral diagnoses, behavior issues, and socioemotional difficulties. Although etiology and professional misdiagnoses likely contribute to elevated prevalence, lack of attention toward language deprivation as a public health issue prevents any further epidemiological insights. Public Health Implications. Despite widespread use of cochlear implants, concerns about deaf children's well-being remain significant. Language deprivation requires investigation and awareness as a social determinant of health.

"Before we used to get sick all the time": perceptions of malaria and use of long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets (LLINs) in a rural Kenyan community.

BACKGROUND: Malaria is a leading global cause of preventable morbidity and mortality, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, despite recent advances in treatment and prevention technologies. Scale-up and wide distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs) could rapidly decrease malarial disease in endemic areas, if used properly and continuously. Studies have shown that effective use of LLINs depends, in part, upon understanding causal factors associated with malaria. This study examined malaria beliefs, attitudes, and practices toward LLINs assessed during a large-scale integrated prevention campaign (IPC) in rural Kenya. METHODS: Qualitative interviews were conducted with 34 IPC participants who received LLINs as part of a comprehensive prevention package of goods and services. One month after distribution, interviewers asked these individuals about their attitudes and beliefs regarding malaria, and about their use of LLINs. RESULTS: Virtually all participants noted that mosquitoes were involved in causing malaria, though a substantial proportion of participants (47 percent) also mentioned an incorrect cause in addition to mosquitoes. For example, participants commonly noted that the weather (rain, cold) or consumption of bad food and water caused malaria. Regardless, most participants used the LLINs they were given and most mentioned positive benefits from their use, namely reductions in malarial illness and in the costs associated with its diagnosis and treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Attitudes toward LLINs were positive in this rural community in Western Kenya, and respondents noted benefits with LLIN use. With improved understanding and clarification of the direct (mosquitoes) and indirect (e.g., standing water) causes of malaria, it is likely that LLIN use can be sustained, offering effective household-level protection against malaria.