Keeping my family safe from germs: Low-income parents struggle in the times of H1N1

In the U.S., 164 million school days are lost due to germ-transmitted illnesses. Infectious diseases like H1N1 are frightening, especially within susceptible groups like the very young. Germ transmission often goes under-addressed, particularly in low-income, language-isolated populations. Public health graduate students investigated this topic with staff and parents of preschoolers of a Head Start facility in Southern California. To inform, program development students conducted a targeted needs and assets assessment (NA+A). Data were collected through windshield surveys, literature reviews, ethnographies/site observations, semi-structured interviews based on the Health Belief Model, and a confirmatory focus group. Data were coded, themed and analyzed using Grounded Theory methods. Results indicated that the children were indeed becoming ill often, but participants believed this not due to germ transmission at the school. They were committed to keeping the children healthy and wanted to learn more about how to best do this at the school and at home. Program suggestions included learning about germ transmission prevention at home and helping parents promote healthy immune systems within the family through fun lifestyle and nutrition activities. Specific requests were for fast, easy, kid-friendly, inexpensive healthy recipes, and games; which promote healthy lifestyles and germ prevention behavior patterns of children through play and use of cartoon characters. A pilot program was then developed, implemented, and evaluated using process and impact evaluation. Results of the NA+A process and pilot study will be discussed in light of program sustainability.