Prevalence and risk factors for failed newborn hearing screening among preterm infants: a prospective cohort study in Nairobi, Kenya

Despite the high burden of global childhood hearing loss, compliance with universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) guidelines is low in many low- and middle-income countries, including Kenya. Preterm infants are especially prone to an increased risk of hearing loss due to the associated perinatal and neonatal morbidities....

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Audiologists and health systems working in low- and middle-income countries should note that prematurity significantly raises the risk of failing newborn hearing screening, and that universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) compliance in these settings remains critically low — programs should prioritise preterm infants.

Quantifying hearing screening failure rates and risk factors among preterm infants in sub-Saharan Africa highlights a major equity gap in early hearing detection and intervention globally.

1. 01Prospective cohort study conducted in Nairobi, Kenya — one of few such studies from sub-Saharan Africa.
2. 02Reports prevalence and risk factors for failing newborn hearing screening in preterm infants.
3. 03Universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) compliance is low in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
4. 04Prematurity is a known risk factor for hearing loss; study provides local epidemiological data.
5. 05Published in BMJ Paediatrics Open — peer-reviewed, open-access journal.

PMID

42838569

DOI

10.1136/bmjpo-2026-004649.

Journal

BMJ Paediatrics Open

Publication type

research_article

Evidence level

2b

Population

Preterm infants in Nairobi, Kenya

Intervention

Newborn hearing screening