Enhancing Environmental Health Literacy about the Asthma- Air Pollution Connection at Childcare Centers in Asthma Prevalent Philadelphia Neighborhoods

Authors

Thomas P. McKeon, University of PennsylvaniaFollow
Frances S. Shofer, University of PennsylvaniaFollow
Marilyn V. Howarth, University of PennsylvaniaFollow

Keywords

Environmental Health Literacy; Air Pollution; Asthma; Community Engagement; Public Health

Abstract

Objective: To determine environmental health literacy of childcare providers about outdoor air quality alert resources, the connection between air pollution and asthma and determine if childcare providers would use the resource to benefit children in their care. Methods: We designed a free outreach program about asthma prevalence, dangers of poor air quality, and air quality alert resources for staff at childcare centers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during summer and fall of 2015-2017. Pre-surveys were administered to evaluate baseline understanding. Post-surveys were administered at 4 weeks and returned within 4-12 weeks. Summary statistics were calculated, and pre/post knowledge compared using a paired t-test. Results: 258 staffers at 45 childcare centers attended the presentations. 214 completed both pre/post surveys. 74% reported never/rarely using air quality alerts before the program. Post-survey, 40% reported signing up for alerts. Post-survey there was an 8% mean increase in knowledge score (95% CI: 6.3-9.5%, Conclusions: This easily administered program using freely available information was useful to childcare providers and increased their environmental health literacy to benefit children in their care.

Keywords: Environmental Health Literacy; Air Pollution; Asthma; Community Engagement; Public Health

Objective: To determine environmental health literacy of childcare providers about outdoor air quality alert resources, the connection between air pollution and asthma and determine if childcare providers would use the resource to benefit children in their care. Methods: We designed a free outreach program about asthma prevalence, dangers of poor air quality, and air quality alert resources for staff at childcare centers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during summer and fall of 2015-2017. Pre-surveys were administered to evaluate baseline understanding. Post-surveys were administered at 4 weeks and returned within 4-12 weeks. Summary statistics were calculated, and pre/post knowledge compared using a paired t-test. Results: 258 staffers at 45 childcare centers attended the presentations. 214 completed both pre/post surveys. 74% reported never/rarely using air quality alerts before the program. Post-survey, 40% reported signing up for alerts. Post-survey there was an 8% mean increase in knowledge score (95% CI: 6.3-9.5%, pConclusions: This easily administered program using freely available information was useful to childcare providers and increased their environmental health literacy to benefit children in their care.

Recommended Citation

McKeon, Thomas P.; Shofer, Frances S.; and Howarth, Marilyn V. (2021) "Enhancing Environmental Health Literacy about the Asthma- Air Pollution Connection at Childcare Centers in Asthma Prevalent Philadelphia Neighborhoods," Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice: Vol. 14: Iss. 3, Article 5.
Available at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/jhdrp/vol14/iss3/5