Self Ear Cleaning among Educated Young Adults in Nigeria

Abstract

Objective: The objectives of this study are: 1) Determine prevalence of “self-ear-cleaning” and of “ear symptoms” among educated young adults in Nigeria. 2) Identify materials and reasons for self-ear-cleaning. 3) Determine association between socio-demographic characteristics and self-ear-cleaning. 4) Determine association between self-ear-cleaning and “ear symptoms.”

Method: In a cross-sectional study in November 2011, semi-structured questionnaires were administered to subjects recruited by stratified random sampling from a youth camp. Outcome variables were “self-ear-cleaning” and “ear symptoms” while independent variables were sociodemographic and “personal history” variables. Statistical analysis employed univariate, bivariate, and multiple regression techniques.

Results: A total of 1012 subjects were studied (M:F = 1.05:1). Prevalence of self-ear-cleaning was 93.4%, cotton buds were most commonly used (91.5%), and the most common reasons were health reasons (50.9%). Prevalence of ear symptoms was 34.1%; 79.3% had never visited a doctor for ear complaints. No significant association existed between self-ear-cleaning and ear symptoms (χ²– 0.135, P-.713) or visit to doctor for ear complaints (χ²−0.858, P-.354). Although significant associations existed between self-ear-cleaning and sex, religion, geopolitical zone, parent’s education, and family members’ practice, opinion that the practice is harmful (OR 0.1, P-.005) and father’s self-ear-cleaning (OR-28.485, P-.001) were the only significant predictors of self-ear-cleaning.

Conclusion: The prevalence of self-ear-cleaning in this study and the lack of significant association with the occurrence of ear symptoms challenges traditional thinking. It raises questions about the extent to which self-ear-cleaning actually contributes to the development of ear disease. More studies are urgently needed to determine the true relationship.