Journal of School of Public Health and

Background and Aim: Hearing impairment is one of the most common congenital defects. Unfortunately there have been no studies so far on the prevalence of various degrees of neonatal hearing, loss in Iran. As accurate determination of prevalence is crucial in estimating disease burden and planning subsequent interventions, we carried out this study to determine the prevalence of neonatal hearing impairment.

Materials and Methods: In this study, we assessed the prevalence of hearing loss among the newborns in province capitals and also looked at the role of some putative risk suggested by the Joint committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH). In this research, 76500 newborns who had undergone audiologist-administered screening tests were assessed by a special questionnaire designed specifically for this study.

Results: After trapshooting the overall prevalence of hearing loss was estimated and then cases were classified as moderate (40 - 65 db HL), severe (65 - 90 db HL), or profound (>90 db HL) hearing loss. Among the newborns examined, a total of 362 were diagnosed with hearing loss and hence the overall prevalence was estimated at 4.7 per thousand 168 cases had moderate (2.2 × 10 -3), 114 cases had severe (1.5 × 10 -3) and 80 cases had profound (1.1 × 10 -3) hearing loss.The prevalence rate ranges from 2-3 × 10 -3 (in Hamedan and Mazandaran) to 7-8 × 10 -3 (in Yazd and Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari). In newborns with a family history of sensory-neural hearing loss the prevalence was 16 × 10 -3, compared to 18 × 10 -3 in those requiring blood transfusions, 15 × 10 -3 in newborns with a history of admission to neonatal intensive care units, 17 × 10 -3 in those with craniofacial anomalies, and 19 × 10 -3 in newborns with birth weights below 1500 grams. The sample included 39376 boys and 37124 girls 193 boys (5 × 10 -3) and 169 girls (4.6 × 10 -3) were affected. The stratified prevalence in males (193) was 477 × 10 -3 for intermediate, 311 × 10 -3 for severe and 202 × 10 -3 for profound deafness. The rates in the female population were 437 × 10 -3 for intermediate, 320 × 10 -3 for severe and 273 × 10 -3 for profound hearing loss.

Conclusion: The results confirm the need for extensive neonatal screening programs, and the significant difference in prevalence between high-risk groups and the normal population provides justification for continuous audiologic screening in this group of newborns.

Background and Aim: Considering the key role of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME) in the implementation and follow-up of the health system reform, its organizational culture can play an important role in the success of this transformation. The aim of this study was to determine the dimensions and orientations of the current organizational culture of the MOHME headquarters.

Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive and explorative study. The study population was the central staff of MOHME. Data were collected using a questionnaire and analyzed by SPSS version 11.5. Descriptive statistical methods (mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation and interval) were used to describe quantitatively the cultural dimensions, followed by a qualitative analysis as well.

Results: Analysis of the data showed the following: 1. Organizational cultural dimensions existing at a high level include self-supervision and identity; 2. Organizational cultural dimensions existing at a moderate level include authority and freedom in operations, clear goals and expectations, communication, coordination and coherence; and 3. Organizational cultural dimensions existing at a low level include innovation, learning, fair reward system, acceptance of change, management support and criticism.

Conclusion:  Considering the key role of the MOHME headquarters staff in designing and implementing health promotion programs, bringing about changes in the organizational culture should be a top priority of the ministerial high authorities.