Assessment of knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors following a pesticide education intervention in webb county, TX

Colonias have poor living conditions that increase pest problems and pesticide use. Pesticide exposure is of particular concern in young children, due to increased vulnerability to pesticide exposure. This study employed promotoras to deliver a pesticide health education module to families with children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years in the Webb County colonias. Assessments of knowledge, behaviors, and attitudes were given prior to, immediately following, and six months after the module delivery. Participant mean knowledge test scores improved by 3.9 points (99.85 %CI: 3.4, 4.4) immediately following the module. This corresponds to a 22 percent increase in the summed knowledge score. Six months after the module, scores remained higher by 2.2 points (99.85% CI: 1.7, 2.8) over the pre-test scores, representing a 12 percent increase in knowledge scores. In addition, significant changes were seen in some behaviors and attitudes six months after the module. The results suggest that promotora-driven environmental health education modules may produce persistent improvements in knowledge, behavior, and attitudes about pesticide use.