Self Ear Cleaning among Educated Young Adults in Nigeria

ObjectiveThe 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.”MethodIn 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.ResultsA 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.ConclusionThe 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.