Exploring the efficacy of an environmental health intervention in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico
Hernández, A.A.; Grineski, S.E.
Family and Community Health 33(4): 343-353
2010
ISSN/ISBN: 1550-5057 PMID: 20736760 DOI: 10.1097/fch.0b013e3181f3b253Document Number: 565194
This study explores the efficacy of an environmental health intervention in several poor colonias in Ciudad Juárez (Mexico). Parents of children with respiratory problems were given environment-friendly products intended to replace hazardous products used in the home, as well as information about environmental health. Parents were surveyed before and after to measure the effectiveness of the intervention and to gauge perceptions. There was a significant reduction in hazardous chemical use (eg, cleaning products and pesticides) and breathing problems. While the intervention focused on changing in-home behaviors, open-ended responses revealed that parents were most concerned about outdoor environmental conditions over which they had less control.