Ear and hearing health in Niue: a qualitative study on the worldviews, knowledge, beliefs and use of health care
Elizabeth A-L Holt
1 2 * , Vili Nosa 3 , Judith McCool 4 , Peter R. Thorne 1 2
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
1 Section of Audiology, School of Population Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
2 Eisdell Moore Centre for Hearing and Balance Research, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
3 Section of Pacific Health, School of Population Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
4 Section of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
Journal of Primary Health Care 14(3) 237-243 https://doi.org/10.1071/HC21137
Published: 14 June 2022
© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)
Abstract
Introduction: Hearing is a primary sense that facilitates the development of spoken language, social connection and an appreciation of sounds within the natural world. Hearing loss has multiple adverse effects across the life course. Understanding the worldviews of ear and hearing health in Pacific peoples is crucial to inform responsive and appropriate hearing health and primary healthcare services.
Aim: To understand the worldviews, knowledge and beliefs held by the Niuean community in Niue towards ear and hearing health, and the use of healthcare methods to contribute to service development.
Methods: Twenty semi-structured interviews were conducted with Niuean community members. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using thematic analysis methods.
Results: Niuean people value hearing health as an important way to communicate and connect with each other. They are proactive health seekers, have good knowledge about ear disease and hearing health and use mainstream medicines alongside spiritual practices and traditional remedies to maintain good ear and hearing health. The hospital system is responsive and accessible to the community’s needs, contrasting with Pacific people’s access to hearing health services in New Zealand.
Discussion: There is a high level of awareness of the importance of hearing health amongst the Niuean community and good accessibility and utilisation of healthcare services. There is potential to implement locally focused ear and hearing health strategies in Niue and conduct hearing health research among the New Zealand-based Niuean community to improve primary healthcare services delivery.
Keywords: beliefs, ear and hearing health, healthcare, interviews, knowledge, Niue, Pacific, qualitative, talanoa, worldviews.
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