ABSTRACT:
A health needs assessment is a systematic approach to identifying the unmet health needs of a population and taking steps to address them. Therefore, there is a demand for health needs assessments to provide the information required for effective interventions for this group. This study aims to fill the knowledge gap by assessing the health needs of Deaf youths. A mixed-methods study involving both quantitative and qualitative approaches was conducted in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Descriptive analysis was performed for all variables in this study, and associations between health needs and their independent variables were tested using Chi-square, with results considered significant at p<0.05. A total of 8 Deaf youths participated in the focus group discussion and the questionnaire-based study included 116 respondents, of whom 54.3% were males, 63.8% were aged 15-18 years, and 69.8% were in senior secondary school. The health needs in order of priority were mental health (76.2%), health education (67.2%), physical health (59.7%), social health (40.8%), health information (35.06%) and spiritual health (21.2%). The level of health knowledge among the participants was low (38.3%), but there was a moderate level of their access to health services (50.8%). The health needs of Deaf youths are directly related to their health outcomes, and significant attention should be paid to these needs, as they reflect the current health status of Deaf youths. Depression, discrimination, and communication barriers are factors that influence the health needs of Deaf youths 2,3,4. Effective training should be provided to counsellors and health workers caring for Deaf youths on diagnosing issues, thereby reducing the risks of depression 5,6. Parents, guardians, and hearing peers should be encouraged to learn basic sign language as a strategy to reduce discrimination and bridge the communication gap within the Deaf community.