Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 18, Issue 1, 2016, Pages 135-142

A Pilot Study of Changes in Environmental Knowledge and Behaviors among Head Start Employees and Parents Following Environmental Health Training in Webb County, TX (Article)

Trueblood A.B. , Rincon R. , Perales R. , Hollingsworth R. , Miller C. , McDonald T.J. , Cizmas L.*
  • a Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Public Health, 102 SPH Administration Building, 1266 TAMU, College Station, TX 77840, United States
  • b South Texas Environmental Education and Research Program, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
  • c South Texas Environmental Education and Research Program, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
  • d Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Public Health, 102 SPH Administration Building, 1266 TAMU, College Station, TX 77840, United States
  • e South Texas Environmental Education and Research Program, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
  • f Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Public Health, 102 SPH Administration Building, 1266 TAMU, College Station, TX 77840, United States
  • g Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Public Health, 102 SPH Administration Building, 1266 TAMU, College Station, TX 77840, United States

Abstract

Head Start centers in Webb County, Texas primarily serve low-income Hispanic families disproportionately affected by environmental exposures. A total of 560 parents and employees attended environmental trainings. Pre- and post-assessments measured whether the trainings were effective at improving related knowledge and behaviors. A total of 152 parents and 94 employees signed consent forms. Only the 64 parents and 50 employees who completed all questionnaires were included in the data analysis. Paired t tests and McNemar tests found significant improvements in knowledge and behaviors related to multiple environmental topics (p < 0.05). Mean scores out of eleven for knowledge before and immediately after were 9.69 (95 % CI 9.44, 9.94) and 10.58 (95 % CI 10.42, 10.74), respectively. Mean scores out of ten for behavior before and 1 month after training were 8.00 (95 % CI 7.71, 8.29) and 9.29 (95 % CI 9.10, 9.48), respectively. This pilot study found improved knowledge and behaviors following environmental health training. © 2014, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

Hispanic Education Healthy homes Knowledge Behavior

Index Keywords

education Parents poverty human Health Behavior Environment Hispanic Americans Humans Hispanic male female pilot study environmental exposure prevention and control Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice organization and management Early Intervention (Education) attitude to health Pilot Projects early childhood intervention Texas parent
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84954371440&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-014-0150-4&partnerID=40&md5=c04fc5fa8de89ccf6ddd17bfca1de1dc
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-014-0150-4
ISSN: 15571912
Original Language: English