Prevalence of deaf people who have a professional Argentine Sign Language interpreter during their children's medical consultations

• Published in: Archivos argentinos de pediatría Vol. 116; no. 5; pp. 310 - 315
• Main Authors: Cutri, Adrián M, Torres, Fernando A, Riquelme, Claudio C, Cabrera, Norma B, Sandoval, Ricardo R, Vesconi, Silvia M, Di Lalla, Sandra, Cordi, Lorena
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Argentina 01-10-2018
• Subjects: Deafness; Sign language; Prevalence; Right to health
• ISSN: 0325-0075; 1668-3501
• DOI: 10.5546/aap.2018.eng.310

In Argentina, hearing disability accounts for 18% of disabilities. Argentine Sign Language (ASL) is the communication system of choice used by deaf people (DP). An incorrect communication with physicians hampers the adequate provision of health care. DP require a professional ASL interpreter (PASLI) in the context of health care provided to their children. National Act no. 26378 stipulates the provision of a PASLI to facilitate access to public facilities. However, most DP neither have an interpreter nor know this right.
To describe the prevalence of DP who have a PASLI present during their children's medical consultations and who know their right to access one at no charge.
Approved and registered, descriptive, cross-sectional study with a structured, self-administered survey. Participants: DP who knew ASL and had children aged 1 month to 18 years old. Outcome variables: to have a PASLI and to know the right to have one. Estimated sample size: 220. Convenience sampling selected from the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires and the province of Chaco. The prevalence and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were estimated.
Two hundred and twenty-two surveys were analyzed. Age: 34.9 ± 10.1 years old. Among all participants, 15.3% (95% CI: 11.1-20.6) sometimes had a PASLI during their children's medical consultations. Also, 48.6% (95% CI: 42.155.1) knew their right to have one.
The prevalence of DP who had a PASLI present during their children's medical consultations was low. Less than a half knew their right to have one.