PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Ayanda Gina AU - Nadja F Bednarczuk AU - Asitha Jayawardena AU - Peter Rea AU - Qadeer Arshad AU - Yougan Saman TI - Universal newborn hearing screening in South Africa: a single-centre study AID - 10.1136/bmjpo-2020-000976 DP - 2021 Mar 01 TA - BMJ Paediatrics Open PG - e000976 VI - 5 IP - 1 4099 - http://bmjpaedsopen.bmj.com/content/5/1/e000976.short 4100 - http://bmjpaedsopen.bmj.com/content/5/1/e000976.full SO - BMJ Paediatrics Open2021 Mar 01; 5 AB - Hearing screening for newborn babies is an established protocol in many high-income countries. Implementing such screening has yielded significant socioeconomic advantages at both an individual and societal level. This has yet to permeate low/middle-income countries (LMIC). Here, we illustrate how newborn hearing screening needs to be contextually adapted for effective utilisation and implementation in an LMIC. Specifically, this advocates the use of auditory brainstem testing as the first-line approach. We propose that such adaptation serves to maximise clinical efficacy and community participation at a reduced cost.