Recorded presentation

Analice S. Hoffenberg, MD¹, Jill S. Litt, PhD¹, Edward Hendrikson, PhD², and Carolyn DiGuiseppi, MD PhD MPH¹. (1) Department of Preventive Medicine & Biometrics, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, 4200 E. 9th Ave., Box Campus C-245, Denver, CO 80262, 303-315-1076, Analice.Hoffenberg@UCHSC.edu, (2) Environmental Health, Plan de Salud del Vale Clinic, 1115 2nd street, Fort Lupton, CO 80621

Objective: To determine the feasibility to enroll and survey low-income Hispanic immigrant families about home safety and health hazards and conduct detailed inspections and environmental sampling in and around their homes Methods: We developed a survey using previously validated questions to assess the prevalence of injury and environmental hazards. We also collected samples of lead in water, dust, soil, and paint using standard environmental sampling procedures for each household. To test the feasibility of evaluating home hazards where immigrant families reside, we collaborated with a Catholic Church in north-central Denver to recruit 50 families with children under the age of 19. Interviews were conducted in Spanish during 2-hour home visits over a three-month period. Preliminary Results: Of 50 families enrolled at the church, 46 completed the survey, inspection, and sampling. The 46 households counted 112 children aged 0-19 years old (2.4 children per household) of whom 50% were 6 years old and below. Eight households (17.4%) had elevated dust lead levels, another 4 (8.7%) had lead-based paint, 2 (4.3%) had elevated water lead, and 1 (2.2%) had elevated lead in the soil. Conclusion: Partnership with faith-based organizations was a useful approach to recruit immigrant families for this detailed study of home health and safety hazards. Migrant and immigrant families face a range of home hazards yet may be missed by traditional outreach and education strategies. Tailored efforts should be developed to reach this population to ensure safe and healthy living environments.

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