Evaluation of a Home-Based Environmental and Educational Intervention to Improve Health in Vulnerable Households: Southeastern Pennsylvania Lead and Healthy Homes Program.
This evaluation examined whether participation in a home-based environmental educational intervention would reduce exposure to health and safety hazards and asthma-related medical visits. The home intervention program focused on vulnerable, low-income households, where children had asthma, were at risk for lead poisoning, or faced multiple unsafe housing conditions. Home visitors conducted two home visits, two months apart, consisting of an environmental home assessment, Healthy Homes education, and distribution of Healthy Homes supplies. Measured outcomes included changes in participant knowledge and awareness of environmental home-based hazards, rate of children's asthma-related medical use, and the presence of asthma triggers and safety hazards. Analysis of 2013-2014 baseline and post-intervention program data for a cohort of 150 families revealed a significantly lower three-month rate (p < 0.05) of children's asthma-related doctor visits and hospital admissions at program completion. In addition, there were significantly reduced reports of the presence of home-based hazards, including basement or roof leaks (p = 0.011), plumbing leaks (p = 0.019), and use of an oven to heat the home (p < 0.001). Participants' pre- and post- test scores showed significant improvement (p < 0.05) in knowledge and awareness of home hazards. Comprehensive home interventions may effectively reduce environmental home hazards and improve the health of asthmatic children in the short term.
Public Health Management Corporation, Centre Square East 1500 Market St., Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA. dmankikar@phmc.org.
Deepa
D
Mankikar
Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W. University Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA. ccampbell3@utep.edu.
Carla
C
Campbell
National Nurse-Led Care Consortium, Centre Square East 1500 Market St., Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA. rgreenberg@nncc.us.
Rachael
R
Greenberg
D000293:Adolescent; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006798:Housing / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010414:Pennsylvania / Q000453:epidemiology; D011203:Poverty; D012449:Safety
childhood asthma; childhood lead poisoning; environmental health; health disparities; health education; healthy homes; home health; home safety; housing; injury prevention