Help-seeking journey to accessing audiology services in a peri-urban community in South Africa.
Thobekile K Mtimkulu, Katijah Khoza-Shangase
PMID 38572901WHAT IT FOUND
Most adults with hearing loss in this South African community took long, complex journeys to reach an audiologist, often visiting multiple providers and relying on social networks.
Only a quarter accessed care quickly, frequently due to existing relationships or direct knowledge of services.
Key findings
0174% of participants navigated multiple social networks and healthcare providers to reach audiology services, while only 26% used self-referral or a single referral.
02ENT specialists frequently acted as gatekeepers in long journeys, with participants moving between primary, secondary, and tertiary care levels before reaching an audiologist.
03Participants often consulted informal social networks, such as friends, family, and acquaintances, alongside formal healthcare providers during their help-seeking process.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
Small sample size (23 participants) limits generalisability. Participants were predominantly older adults (average age 67.8 years), so findings may not reflect the experiences of younger, working-age adults. Data collection occurred in a single public hospital in a peri-urban area, limiting applicability to other settings. The study only included patients who successfully reached the audiology department, excluding those who dropped out or sought care elsewhere without reaching a specialist.
Declared interests
The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume these findings apply to all hearing-impaired adults. The sample was mostly older, retired individuals in a specific peri-urban South African context, so experiences of younger, employed adults or those in different regions may differ significantly.