5 Case Reports of Maternal Experiences during Pregnancy, Peripartum and Infancy Periods of their Profoundly Deaf Children under the Socioeconomic Situation in Nigeria

Abstract

The incidence of profound hearing loss is global, but the challenges and perception of mothers during pregnancy, peripartum and infancy of their children with profound hearing loss appear to differ from country to country and between developed and developing countries.  The aim of this study was to investigate the experiences of five mothers of profoundly deaf children in Calabar, Southeastern Nigeria, during pregnancy, peripartum and infancy of such children, including how these 5 mothers interpreted their children’s disability, relative to the socioeconomic situations in Nigeria. A qualitative methodology aimed at having a holistic and indepth understanding of the experiences of these 5 mothers, was employed. The results revealed that these 5 mothers were initially suspicious of their children’s disability when they noticed the children’s developmental delay, resulting in frustration and worry. There was no newborn screening test for the disability as done in developed countries, thus denying parents expeditious preventive measures. Mothers’ ignorance of the aetiological factors of the abnormality, wrong diagnosis by unskilled health workers in available hospitals and spiritual belief, coupled with socioeconomic factors such as poverty and very strange healthcare system, all were the experiences of mothers which of course, obstructed choices of solution to the abnormality. The information collected from these 5 mothers indicates socioeconomic impediments, ignorance and spiritual belief system will continue to negatively affect the management of profound deafness in Nigeria.