Objective: To compare the prevalence of chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) in children of government and private schools. Study Design: Cross sectional study.
Place and Duration: The study was conducted in randomly selected government primary schools and private primary schools of a town (Shaidu) of Nowshera district.
Materials and Methods: 831 children in government schools and 642 children in private schools were studied. All children were screened with the help of a proforma and ear examination.Results: The overall point prevalence of ear diseases in government school group was 12.7% and in private group was 7%. The prevalence of CSOM was 1.80% among government group and 1.24% among private group, the difference being statistically insignificant (P>0.01). The difference in various parameters of socio-economic status between the two populations was also not statistically significant.
Conclusion: The difference in the prevalence of CSOM is not only dependent upon the economic status of the individuals but it probably depends upon the whole social infrastructure and health facilities of an area.
Key words:  Chronic suppurative otitis media. Secretory otitis media.  Ear examination.

Introduction

Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is one of the most common ear diseases in South East Asia having a prevalence of approximately 5.2% in the general population.¹ The World Health Organization has indicated that a prevalence rate of CSOM greater than 4% in a defined population of children is indicative of a massive public health problem requiring urgent attention.² A cross-sectional survey conducted among 914 children in rural South Indian children  found the overall prevalence rate of CSOM to be 6%.³ The associated hearing loss has a life-long impact, as it occurs during speech and language development and the early school years.⁴ A recent study in Nigeria has concluded that hearing loss due to CSOM had an adverse effect on the academic performance of the children.⁵ In our country, the most common causes of significant hearing loss are CSOM, and secretory otitis media.¹ According to recent study, the prevalence of hearing loss in CSOM was 89/189 (47%) and was conductive in 73/89 (82%) and sensorineural (SHL) in 16/89 (18%).⁶  As these diseases can be prevented and treated, so awareness of these diseases should be increased among general population to decrease morbidity due to these diseases. The epidemiology of these diseases varies according to the geographic regions of the country.

The aim of this study was to find out if CSOM differs in people of lower and higher socioeconomic strata of the same region. The study groups were randomly selected in order to sample government and private primary school students living in the same district.