PURPOSE:
to analyze the socioeconomic and demographic aspects of mothers enrolled in a newborn hearing screening program.
METHODS:
the data were obtained from a database of a newborn hearing screening program. A total of 2476 mothers of newborns and infants took part in the study, conducted at a university hospital between 2007 and 2009.
RESULTS:
it was observed that 65.1% of the mothers were aged between 20 and 34 years-old, 67.5% were married, 36.2% did not finish high school, 56.4% were homemakers and 96.7% gave birth in public maternities.
CONCLUSION:
some socioeconomic and demographic characteristics can be considered unfavorable to good health, especially with respect to newborn and infant development. These conditions can lead to risk indicators for hearing loss, and should be taken into account when implementing a newborn hearing screening program in developing countries.
Child Health; Hearing; Socioeconomic Factors
