title: Perception of Environmental Risks and Health Promotion Attitudes of French Perinatal Health Professionals.
abstract: The exposure of pregnant women to environmental contaminants is a subject of international concern. However, the risk perception of these contaminants by health professionals (HP) has not been extensively investigated. The main objective of the PERI-HELPE study (Perception of Risk-HEaLth Professionals &amp; Environment Study) was to assess the risk perception of environmental exposure of pregnant women by perinatal HPs. The secondary objectives were to describe the preventive attitudes of perinatal HPs concerning chemicals exposure of pregnant women and to identify the barriers to preventive attitude. A cross-sectional study was performed in 2015 in France. One hundred eighty-nine HPs (obstetricians, midwives, and general practitioners) replied to an online self-administered questionnaire (participation rate: 11%). Carbon monoxide, pesticides and lead were the contaminants most frequently perceived as a high risk for pregnant women. A minority of HPs asked women about their chemical exposure and advised them to reduce exposure. The lack of information, training and scientific evidence in environmental health were the main difficulties declared by the HPs to advise pregnant women. Despite the low response rate, our findings provide important information to encourage French health authorities to take into account the difficulties encountered by HPs and set up appropriate training programs in Environmental health.
authors.affiliation: EA 4681, PEPRADE, Clermont Université, Université d'Auvergne, 28 Place Henri-Dunant BP 38, 63001 Clermont-Ferrand, France. cmarie@chu-clermontferrand.fr.|Pôle Santé Publique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Clermont-Ferrand, 58 Rue Montalembert, 63003 Clermont-Ferrand CEDEX 1, France. cmarie@chu-clermontferrand.fr.
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marie
authors.affiliation: EA 4681, PEPRADE, Clermont Université, Université d'Auvergne, 28 Place Henri-Dunant BP 38, 63001 Clermont-Ferrand, France. dlemery@chu-clermontferrand.fr.|Pôle Gynécologie-obstétrique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Clermont-Ferrand, 58 Rue Montalembert, 63003 Clermont-Ferrand CEDEX 1, France. dlemery@chu-clermontferrand.fr.|Association des Utilisateurs de Dossiers informatisés en Pédiatrie, Obstétrique et Gynécologie (AUDIPOG), RTH Laennec Medical University, 7 rue Guillaume Paradin, 69372 Lyon CEDEX 08, France. dlemery@chu-clermontferrand.fr.
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lémery
authors.affiliation: EA 4681, PEPRADE, Clermont Université, Université d'Auvergne, 28 Place Henri-Dunant BP 38, 63001 Clermont-Ferrand, France. fvendittelli@chu-clermontferrand.fr.|Pôle Gynécologie-obstétrique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Clermont-Ferrand, 58 Rue Montalembert, 63003 Clermont-Ferrand CEDEX 1, France. fvendittelli@chu-clermontferrand.fr.|Association des Utilisateurs de Dossiers informatisés en Pédiatrie, Obstétrique et Gynécologie (AUDIPOG), RTH Laennec Medical University, 7 rue Guillaume Paradin, 69372 Lyon CEDEX 08, France. fvendittelli@chu-clermontferrand.fr.
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vendittelli
authors.affiliation: EA 4681, PEPRADE, Clermont Université, Université d'Auvergne, 28 Place Henri-Dunant BP 38, 63001 Clermont-Ferrand, France. m-pierre.sauvant-rochat@udamail.fr.|Département Santé Publique et Environnement, Faculté de Pharmacie, Clermont Université, Université d'Auvergne, 28 place Henri-Dunant BP 38, 63001 Clermont-Ferrand, France. m-pierre.sauvant-rochat@udamail.fr.
authors.forename: Marie-Pierre
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Sauvant-Rochat
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004777:Environment; D004782:Environmental Health; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D058006:General Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008880:Midwifery; D009774:Obstetrics; D010465:Perception; D018743:Perinatal Care; D010820:Physicians; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012306:Risk; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: environmental chemicals; environmental health; perinatal health professionals; preventive attitude; reproductive health; risk perception