Despite the efforts of government, local agencies, and community health professionals to provide safe environments for young children, many home settings can be the source of harmful exposures. With funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 4, the Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University developed a theory-driven assessment of environmental factors and behaviors of parents of young children related to exposures to pesticides, lead, radon, and environmental tobacco smoke. Results from a survey of 850 rural Georgia residents indicated that although parents are generally aware of the health effects of lead (92%) and environmental tobacco smoke (88%), knowledge on the effects of radon was low (52%). Parents' self-efficacy related to controlling the amount of smoking near children was moderately high (81%). The prevalence of health-promoting behaviors related to the exposures such as hand washing (92%), following directions (95%), and proper storage of pesticides (such as household chemicals) (92%) was generally high. Other behaviors related to the overuse of pesticides, smoking with children in the home, and specific strategies to reduce exposure to lead were less frequently reported, but will require recommendations for further interventions. The results will assist a local multi-disciplinary coalition to select and tailor appropriate educational interventions for community parents to improve children's environmental health through programs in schools, the health department, the local hospital, and media.
Learning Objectives: 1. List parental health-promoting behaviors that benefit children's environmental health. 2. Discuss which behaviors related to pesticides, lead, radon, and environmental tobacco smoke will require additional health education efforts. 3. List three differences in health-promoting practices between African American and Whites
Keywords: Environmental Health, Child Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.