Associated factors for parent-reported otitis media in 12-month-old infants

Objective: To report host-related and environmental factors associated with otitis media (OM), and compare the prevalence of OM in 12-month-old infants reported by parents with that predicted from audiological assessment results.

Design: A non-randomised, cross-sectional design was used. Data were collected via a parental questionnaire during children's audiology appointment at 12 months of age. Audiological assessments were performed on all participants.

Study sample: Participants were 237 infants whose parents had completed a questionnaire at the audiology appointment.

Results: The results of the logistic regressions with univariate model showed that attendance at day-care centres, upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) and siblings' history of OM were statistically significant variables with an odds ratio of 1.91, 2.87 and 3.56, respectively. The results of the multivariate logistic regression highlighted siblings' history of OM as the significant associated factor. The prevalence of parent-reported OM was 22.3% whereas the prevalence predicted from audiological findings was at least 39.7%.

Conclusions: The present study identified three associated factors for OM: day-care attendance, frequent URTI and siblings' history of OM in infants. The prevalence of OM predicted from audiologic measures was about twice of that reported by parents. Preventive measures to mitigate the effects of OM have been suggested.