OTITIS MEDIA WITH EFFUSION AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG CHILDREN LESS THAN 15 YEARS OLD IN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Background: Otitis Media with Effusion is a condition marked by the presence of fluid in the middle ear without acute signs of infection. This disorder is especially widespread in youngsters, posing serious dangers to hearing and overall developmental consequences. Understanding the frequency and risk factors for OME is critical, particularly in low resource countries. Despite the facts, OME in Ethiopia has garnered limited attention. Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of otitis media with effusion among children less than 15 years old in Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was employed, using data from the National Hearing Survey titled "Prevalence and Causes of Hearing Loss in Ethiopia, 2023." The study included 4,647 randomly selected children from all regional states in Ethiopia, excluding the Tigray regional state and city administrations. The original survey utilized a multi-stage sampling technique to identify specific study settings and recruit participants from various geographic regions of the country. Data extracted from the survey were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0. Means and standard deviations were used to describe continuous data, while frequencies and percentages were employed for categorical data. Both bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were performed. Statistical significance was set at a 5% level, and adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated to present the strength of the associated factors. Result: The prevalence of Otitis media with effusion was found to be 19 % CI: 17.9 -20.1. Living in rural area (AOR = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.72 – 0.99), having an auricle malformation (AOR = 7.17; 95% CI: 1.19 – 43.1) and a history of Acute Otitis Media (AOM) (AOR = 18.6; 95% CI: 12.2 – 28.2) were all found to have significant association with OME. Conclusion: The prevalence of OME is high compared to that reported in the literature Living in a rural area, having an auricle malformation and history of Acute Otitis Media were all significantly related to the prevalence of OME. Key words: Otitis media, otitis media with effusion, Ethiopia