Hearing impairment and poverty: The epidemiology of ear disease in Peruvian schoolchildren

Abstract

Impoverished Peruvian schoolchildren were four to seven times more likely to experience HI than children living in higher-income countries. Untreated middle ear disease in the context of limited access to pediatric care was a major risk factor for HI. Furthermore, HI was associated with worse scholastic achievement. These results support prioritization of pediatric ear health as an essential component of the global health agenda, especially in resource-poor countries.