An Integrated Pest Management Intervention in Child Care Centers

This session will cover ways to reduce the exposure of harmful chemicals and hazards to young children attending child care programs by using Integrated Pest Management (IPM). An IPM Toolkit was developed by the California Childcare Health Program at UCSF School of Nursing and included in an experimental study with 35 licensed child care centers. The study evaluated the effectiveness of an IPM educational intervention conducted by trained nurse child care health consultants for the child care staff using the IPM Toolkit. It included interviews with the director and inspection of the child care facility using an IPM Checklist. The directors were given feedback on the IPM Checklist inspection with pictures of the problems identified and ideas on how to address the problems. Preliminary results showed that there were improvements in the child care centers. The centers included primarily children from low-income, ethnically diverse backgrounds. The IPM Checklist identified IPM policies and practices targed during the intervention. Director interviews revealed positive attitudes about the IPM Toolkit, support for using IPM in the center and satisfaction with the intervention. Information on IPM practices and policies are relevant for all public health professionals, child care staff and parents to learn how to use IPM to reduce the exposure of harmful substances to young children at home and in child care programs.