Abstract
To reduce young children’s exposure to pesticides when attending family child care homes (FCCHs), we developed an integrated pest management (IPM) intervention for FCCH directors. First, we developed IPM educational materials and resources to provide the foundation for an IPM educational intervention for FCCHs. Next, we conducted and evaluated a six-month nurse child care health consultant (CCHC)-led education and consultation IPM intervention to increase IPM knowledge, IPM practices, IPM policies, and decrease the presence or evidence of pests. The pilot intervention study was conducted by three CCHCs in 20 FCCHs in three counties in California. Pre- and post-intervention measures were completed by the FCCH directors and observation measures were completed by the CCHCs. Results indicated significant increases in IPM knowledge, (t-statistic (degrees of freedom), (t(df) = 2.55(10), p < 0.05), increases in IPM practices (t(df) = −6.47(17), p < 0.05), and a 90% reduction in the prevalence of pests. There were no significant differences in changes in IPM practices based on director education, FCCH county, or IPM intervention intensity or duration. A nurse-led IPM education and consultation intervention can reduce exposures of young children attending family child care homes to harmful chemicals.
Highlights
Chronic, low-level, indoor pesticide exposures early in life are associated with adverse health outcomes, including cognitive, developmental, neurological, and respiratory problems later in life [1,2,3,4,5,6]
family child care homes (FCCHs) directors to determine their awareness of integrated pest management (IPM) and their IPM needs in order to inform our staff about content to include in the IPM Toolkit for FCCHs
The three focus groups with FCCH directors were conducted to identify what the FCCH directors knew about IPM, how they handled pest problems, and what changes were needed in our IPM Toolkit for child care centers in order to respond to their needs
Summary
Low-level, indoor pesticide exposures early in life are associated with adverse health outcomes, including cognitive, developmental, neurological, and respiratory problems later in life [1,2,3,4,5,6]. Two specific neurotoxic pesticides associated with children’s health problems include organophosphates (neurodevelopmental deficits and attention deficit/hyperactive disorders) [1] and pyrethroids (childhood asthma) [7]. Exposure to pests such as cockroaches, mold, mice, and dust mites have been shown to exacerbate childhood asthma symptoms, causing missed school days [5,8,9,10]. Applications of pesticides in environments where young children spend time are potentially harmful to children’s short- and long-term health
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