TY - JOUR A1 - Gadanya, Mukhtar A1 - Abubakar, Sanusi A1 - Ahmed, Abdulazeez A1 - Maje, Amina T1 - Prevalence and attitude of self-ear cleaning with cotton bud among doctors at aminu Kano teaching hospital, Northwestern Nigeria Y1 - 2016/7/1 JF - Nigerian Journal of Surgical Research JO - Niger J Surg Res SP - 43 EP - 47 VL - 17 IS - 2 UR - http://www.njsrjournal.org/article.asp?issn=1595-1103;year=2016;volume=17;issue=2;spage=43;epage=47;aulast=Gadanya DO - 10.4103/1595-1103.194215 N2 - Background: The use of cotton bud for self-ear cleaning is a common practice among many people despite its attendant ill-effects. This study examined the prevalence, attitude toward the use of cotton buds, and reasons for the use of cotton buds and problems or ill-effects associated with its use among medical doctors working at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among a randomly selected sample of 130 medical doctors working in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital spread across several departments in the hospital using a self-administered semi-structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using MINITAB statistical software and the results summarized using measures of central tendency while Chi-square test was used to assess for associations between categorical variables. Results: The respondents' age ranged from 25 to 55 years with a mean age of 33.6 ± 5.4 years. Most of the respondents were males (68.0%) The prevalence of cotton bud use was found to be 76.3% and for many, the frequency of use of cotton buds was once daily, and both ears were frequently cleaned. A common problem encountered with cotton bud use was retention of the bud as a foreign body. There was an association between owning a cotton bud and using it (χ2 = 38.317, P= 0.001). There was also a significant association between the use of cotton buds and the department where the respondent works (χ2 = 19.28, P= 0.0001). Conclusion: The use of cotton buds for self-ear cleaning is surprisingly prevalent among medical doctors working at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital. There is a need for health education and promotion strategies for health workers in the hospital community that ear cleaning is best done by trained personnel. ER -