High rates of suppurative otitis media among children attending urban clinics in Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea: a cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Otitis media (OM) is the leading cause of childhood hearing loss but its burden in low-middle-income countries like Papua New Guinea (PNG) is poorly understood. We aimed to determine the proportion of children aged ≤15 years attending clinics in Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province, PNG with OM and associated risk factors.

Methods

In 2021-2022 any child attending outpatient clinics because they were sick or for ear screening or immunisation and accompanying siblings were eligible for enrolment into this cross-sectional study. Clinical and risk factor data were collected, ears examined by trained research nurses using otoscopy and tympanometry and findings independently reviewed by Australia-based audiologists. A child-level diagnosis was made based on the worst affe

SUBMITTER: Aho C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12906200 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature