Vinita Metgudmath¹, Sachi Hajare²*, Vaishnavi Mahishale³ and Priti Hajare⁴

¹Associate Professor, Department of ORL&HNS, J N Medical College, Kaher, Belagavi, India
²Undergraduate Student III/I MBBS, J N Medical College, Kaher, Belagavi, India
³Undergraduate Student III/II MBBS, J N Medical College, Kaher, Belagavi, India
⁴Professor, Department of ORL&HNS, J N Medical College, Kaher, Belagavi, India

*Corresponding Author: Sachi Hajare, Undergraduate Student III/I MBBS, J N Medical College, Kaher, Belagavi, India.

Received: August 22, 2025; Published: August 29, 2025

Abstract

Background: Consanguineous marriage, defined as a union between blood relatives, is culturally accepted in many regions but is associated with increased genetic risks, including childhood hearing loss. Public awareness about these consequences and the importance of early detection and intervention is crucial for effective prevention and management.

Objective: To assess the awareness, beliefs, and attitudes of individuals regarding consanguineous marriage and its potential association with childhood hearing loss, along with understanding of risk factors, early detection, and treatment options.

Methodology: A questionnaire comprising 19 questions was administered to evaluate participants' knowledge on consanguineous marriage, hereditary and non-hereditary causes of hearing loss, and the significance of early intervention. Responses were categorized into three levels of awareness: low, moderate, and high.

Results: Most participants (82.5%) were aware of consanguineous marriage, and 90% understood its consequences, though 37.5% still supported such unions. Awareness of risk factors for childhood hearing loss varied: 65% knew about risks from NICU stays over five days, 40% from neonatal jaundice, 35% from ototoxic antibiotics, 52.5% from maternal medications, and 80% from maternal infections during pregnancy. Additionally, 62.5% recognized head or ear injuries as risk factors. Awareness was high regarding early detection (85%), treatment options (90%), and the importance of early intervention (90%).

Conclusion: The study reveals a significant level of awareness about consanguineous marriage and childhood hearing loss. However, gaps remain in translating knowledge into practice, especially concerning support for consanguineous unions and understanding of certain medical risk factors. These findings highlight the need for targeted health education programs focusing on genetic counselling, risk prevention, and early intervention strategies to reduce the incidence of hearing loss in children.

Keywords: Consanguineous Marriage; Childhood Hearing Loss; Early Detection; Genetic Risk Factors; Neonatal Risk Factors; Maternal Infections; Public Awareness Preventive Health Education

Keywords: Varicella-Zoster Virus; Ramsay Hunt Syndrome; Retroauricular Area; Vesicular Rash; Hypothyroidism; Diabetes Mellitus

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Citation

Citation: Sachi Hajare., et al. “Assessing Knowledge and Awareness About the Effect of Consanguinity on Hearing Loss in Children - A Community Based Study"Acta Scientific Otolaryngology 7.10 (2025): 23-27.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2025 Anil S Harugop., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.