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KANJI, Amisha and KRABBENHOFT, Kirsten. Audiological follow-up in a risk-based newborn hearing screening programme: An exploratory study of the influencing factors. S. Afr. J. Commun. Disord.[online]. 2018, vol. 65, n. 1, pp. 1-7. ISSN 2225-4765. http://dx. doi. org/10.4102/sajcd. v65i1. 587.

BACKGROUND: Follow-up return rate in Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programmes is of specific importance as it ensures that benchmarks are met and that no child with suspected hearing loss is left unidentified. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the factors influencing audiological follow-up of high-risk infants in a risk-based newborn hearing screening programme. METHOD: A non-experimental, exploratory, qualitative research design was employed. Purposive sampling was used. The study was conducted at a secondary level hospital in the public health care sector in South Africa. Participants comprised 10 caregivers (age range 26-40 years) of infants who had been enrolled in a risk-based newborn hearing screening programme, and returned for follow-up appointments. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews. Responses were recorded by the researcher and a colleague to ensure rigour and trustworthiness of findings. Data were analysed using thematic analysis for open-ended questions and descriptive statistics for the closed-ended questions. RESULTS: The most common positive contributors that facilitated participants' attendance at follow-up appointments were: having friendly audiologists; a clear line of communication between caregiver and audiologist and a reminder of the appointment …