Self- perception of health by the user of the Hearing Health Care Network

Abstract Background Hearing impairment is one of the most common sensory deficits in the world. The study of self-perception of health can provide knowledge of the impact of this deficiency and evaluate health promotion and prevention measures. Objective To verify the association between self-perception of health, perception of hearing problems and motivation to seek care by the user of the Hearing Health Care Network. Method this is an observational analytic cross-sectional study with random probability sample stratified per municipality composed by 228 users connected to the Hearing Health Care Units of Minas Gerais in 34 cities of the two microregions. For data collection, a semi-structured script was used. In the analysis of association, the Mann-Whitney test was used, considering statistically significant associations those that presented value p≤0.05. Results There was a statistically significant association between age and time that has the problem and between self-perception of health and perception of hearing problems. Respondents who considered auditory alteration as a health problem had a 3.72 higher odds of being considered patients. Conclusion the study found that considering hearing impairment a health problem was associated with a higher odd of being considered ill. More than half of the interviewees searched the network because of difficulties in listening and understanding people.