KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE TOWARDS AND PRACTICE OF AURAL HYGIENE IN MADONNA UNIVERSITY, ELELE, RIVERS STATE NIGERIA.

Aural hygiene is an important aspect of personal health, as the ear possesses natural mechanisms for self-cleaning through the production of cerumen (earwax), which protects the ear canal from dust, microorganisms, and other foreign particles. However, the practice of self-ear cleaning is common among many individuals and may lead to complications such as infections, irritation, and injury to the ear canal. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to aural hygiene among students of Madonna University, Elele Campus. The study adopted a cross-sectional descriptive design involving 300 students selected through stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire that examined participants’ knowledge of aural hygiene, their attitudes toward ear cleaning, and their personal ear-care practices. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 27.0 to determine frequencies and patterns of responses. Findings revealed that only 23.7% of the students possessed good knowledge of proper aural hygiene. A large proportion of respondents (87%) reported engaging in self-ear cleaning, with cotton buds identified as the most frequently used tool. Additionally, 10.7% of participants reported experiencing complications such as ear pain, infections, and foreign body retention resulting from their ear-cleaning practices. The study also found that variables such as age, academic level, and type of residence influenced students’ knowledge levels and hygiene practices. The study concludes that there is a considerable gap in students’ knowledge of safe aural hygiene and a high prevalence of potentially harmful ear-cleaning practices. It therefore recommends the implementation of targeted health education and awareness programmes to promote safe ear-care practices and reduce the risk of related complications among university students.