Articles
DOI DOI: 10.66434/ijssr.v1i1.556

Poor nutrition as a cause of hearing impairment: Pregnant women's perspective

Oluwatoyin Racheal Ogunwale1, Edna Nnenna Okoro 1, Oluwakemi Adejoke Akinmosin1, Dorcas Olufunmilayo OJo1, Augusta Molokwu1
  1. 1 Federal College of Education (Special), Nigeria

Abstract

Many cases of hearing loss in neonates can be prevented if pregnant mothers are aware of the right nutrition to be taken in as food. Several challenges can influence the nutritional habits of most pregnant women. Hence, this paper examines pregnant women's awareness of nutritional requirements and the role of poor nutrition in causing hearing loss in neonates. Two research questions guided the study. The study adopted a descriptive survey design; one public and one private hospital in Oyo Town, Nigeria, were purposively selected. Questionnaires and structured interviews were used to elicit information from 20 women who responded. A Twenty-item titled ‘Awareness of nutritional causes of hearing loss in neonates’ was adopted by the researchers. The data collected were analyzed using frequency counts and simple percentages. T-test statistics were used to compare the hospitals' antenatal attendance of pregnant mothers. The results showed that all pregnant women were aware of the nutritional requirements during pregnancy, and educated pregnant mothers complied with the right nutrition in terms of quality and quantity to avoid neonatal hearing loss. Regrettably, the full-time homemakers, daily laborers, petty traders, among other respondents, fell victim to poor nutrition, evidently not intentional but due to circumstances beyond their control, as revealed in the scheduled interview. It is therefore recommended, among others, that adequate provision, guidance, and awareness-raising maintain proper nutritional status, thereby preventing hearing loss in neonates.

How to Cite

Ogunwale, O. R., Okoro , E. N., Akinmosin, O. A., OJo, D. O., & Molokwu, A. (2026). Poor nutrition as a cause of hearing impairment: Pregnant women’s perspective . International Journal of Studies in Systematic Reviews, 1(1), 83–86. https://doi.org/10.66434/ijssr.v1i1.556
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