Abstract
Background: Despite mediatization, only half of pregnant women are informed about endocrine disruptors (EDs). We wished to inquire about appropriate environmental health education procedures during pregnancy: Who, when, and how? Methods: The question stems from a comprehensive population health intervention research project. It includes qualitative studies aimed at constructing an educational program in environmental health and an accompanying assessment tool. The validation of a customized questionnaire (PREVED© for Pregnancy Prevention Endocrine Disruptors) about the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of pregnant women regarding exposure to EDs was carried out in a quantitative study. Results: Health education by a prenatal professional with communication skills should take place as early as possible, during the preconception period or early pregnancy, as part of individual consultation or group workshops. In order to customize the discourse and to develop women’s empowerment, concomitant presentation of the risks by the products used in each room and of previous solutions is recommended. Conclusion: Appropriate health education procedures on EDs should be done at every contact but taking the KAP of pregnant women into account first. We propose all educational actions should be accompanied by questioning of the KAP of pregnant women; for example, with questions from the PREVED© questionnaire.
Highlights
Because of their transplacental passage, endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDs) are environmental factors currently thought to affect the development of fetuses and young children following exposure during the in utero period, with long-term consequences for their future lives [1]
The questions were aimed at assessing the efficacy and effectiveness of the program in terms of the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of pregnant women towards endocrine disruptor exposure
The question addressed to the groups we present in this article was: “How should we talk about perinatal exposure to endocrine disruptors?”
Summary
Because of their transplacental passage, endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDs) are environmental factors currently thought to affect the development of fetuses and young children following exposure during the in utero period, with long-term consequences for their future lives [1]. A significant number of pathologies and disorders are considered to be related to prenatal exposure to EDs: Low birth weight [2,3], prematurity [4,5], asthma and allergies [6], pubertal development disorders [7], congenital abnormalities [3], neurobehavioral disorders [8,9] and breast cancers [10]. In this context, the benefits procured from a reduction of pregnant women’s exposure to these molecules appear to be real. We propose all educational actions should be accompanied by questioning of the KAP of pregnant women; for example, with questions from the PREVED© questionnaire
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