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Abstract #147955

Victor Emanuel Reyes-Ortiz, MS, Environmental Health Department, University of Puerto Rico, School of Public Health, P.O.Box 365067, San Juan, PR 00617, 7872496929, khmeres@gmail.com, René Rolando Dávila-Torres, MS, Developmental Department- Mother and Child Health Program, University of Puerto Rico, School of Public Health, P.O.Box 365067, San Juan, PR 00617, and Rafael Ríos-Dávila, PhD, PE, School of Public Health, University of Puerto Rico - Medical Sciences Campus, P.O.Box 365067, San Juan, Puerto Rico, PR 00936-5067.

Background: The social satisfaction of individual and their community are not necessarily aligned with public policy or scientific data and/or priority. Indeed to include community priority, which can be diverse as their environmental perceptions are, could help to be more effective and improve the efficacy/efficiency of the environmental health program. A cross-sectional design was used to evaluate the perceived confidence in governmental, and community group action and public policy issues. in one community of Juana Díaz, Puerto Rico. Methods: A probabilistic model was used to obtain a representative sample of households in the Guayabal community. A face to face interview was designed to obtain information of all residents (n=263) in the selected households. Chi-squares, t-test and ANOVA Oneway were used for data analysis. Results: 56.9% are unaware of state/federal laws that protect the air quality in Puerto Rico. 87.4% consider that an individual or organization can be criminal process in the Puerto Rico justice courts for causing environment damage. On the other hand, 64.9%, 76.4%, 51.0% perceived as poor/none, the municipal - central governmental and community leadership actions, respectively, to attend the community air pollution issues. Statistical differences were observed by gender, income, marital status and education level for the perceived confidence in governmental, community group action and public policy issues. Conclusion: In general, the community perceived poor to none confidence in the actions taken toward air pollution reduction in the community.

Learning Objectives:

• Development of public policy aligned to public perceptions in a low income community.
• Environmental health issues related to a southern community in Puerto Rico affected by stone quarries.

Keywords: Community Health, Public Policy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.