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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

LaToria Whitehead, MPH, School of Medicine / Public Health, Mercer University School of Medicine/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), 1600 Clifton Rd., NE Mailstop E87, Atlanta, GA 30333, (404)498-3968, ceq6@cdc.gov, Rueben Warren, DDS, MPH, DrPH, ITC, tbd, Atlanta, GA 30314, and Francesca Lopez, MSPH, Research Center on Health Disparities, Morehouse College, 830 Westview Drive, Box 1400091, Atlanta, GA 30314.

Increasing evidence suggests that there is a disproportionate disparity of environmental exposures among minority and low-income groups that may attribute to detrimental health. Children are most vulnerable to negative health risks from early life exposures to environmental contamination. The Head Start program has been shown to mitigate the effects of poverty, providing children with a better opportunity for a healthy life. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between the demographic factors of Head Start mothers and their environmental awareness. Data from this analysis were taken from a 1996, 77-item survey instrument. The survey was designed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors, of Head Start families related to environmental health. The survey was distributed in 20 counties, to 804 Head Start households that were selected at random out of a total of 5000 households enrolled in the Mississippi Action for Progress Head Start program. The number of parents who responded was 763 out of 804 (95% response rate) female-headed households, who were participants of the M.A.P. program. Although race and age were important factors influencing the environmental awareness of the mothers, the educational level of the mother was not. These findings show an implication of the need for environmental health enrichment programs for Head Start mothers. Study results should be utilized for follow-up research that is essential for Head Start mothers to have means to increase their political involvement.

Learning Objectives:

• The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between the demographic factors of Head Start mothers and their environmental awareness. The other objective is to demonstrate why or why not there is a need for environmental health enrichment programs for Head Start mothers.

Keywords: Head Start, Children's Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation