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Impact of population characteristics on Illinois childcare adoption of integrated pest management (IPM)

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Abstract

Aim

Assess participation of licensed Illinois childcare facilities in integrated pesticide management (IPM) training, IPM understanding and (for trained facilities) implementation relative to local socio-economic characteristics.

Subject and methods

2000 census data were compared to pre- and post-training survey data from childcare facilities to assess the direct and indirect (diffusion) impacts of training through bivariate correlation (Spearman’s Rho), 1-way ANOVA and regression analysis. Socio-economic variables were selected from studies of environmental concern and behavior, extent of pest problems, pesticide use and children’s exposure. Dependent variables included self-reported facility characteristics, pest problems and control, understanding IPM benefits and IPM legislation, and IPM implementation.

Results

For all childcare facilities, training explained 8.9% and socio-economic variables 18% of the variance in understanding IPM benefits. Childcare facilities in urban low socio-economic populations were more likely to suffer from pests, participate in training and understand IPM benefits; however, childcare centers were more likely than smaller facilities and family childcare homes to implement IPM. Private childcare facilities in higher-income populations were less likely to understand IPM benefits from training or other sources, but training led to implementation.

Conclusions

Large government sponsored or private childcare facilities are more likely to implement select IPM practices post-training. Licensed and informal facilities could benefit from on-line IPM training certification programs with inspection requirements and IPM implementation financial assistance, similar to government energy saving programs for small businesses. More research is needed in higher-income populations to assess pesticide use and children’s exposure and need for IPM, to inform intervention programs.

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Notes

  1. Information on the type of center was unavailable for childcare services not trained by SPCP.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the USEPA Partnerships to Reduce Pesticide Risk Programs and Chicago Grand Victoria Foundation. We are greatly indebted to the Safer Pest Control Project (SPCP) and Gayle Tulipano. A special thank you is extended to Timothy Johnson (UIC Survey Research Laboratory) for assistance in statistical analysis and manuscript review.

Conflicts of interest

The author declares there is no conflict of interest in publishing this research.

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  1. Debby F. Mir

    Present address: , Dekel 14A, Kiryat Tivon, Israel, 36056

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  1. Department of Environmental Science, Tel Hai Academic College, Upper Galilee, 12210, Israel

    Debby F. Mir

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Mir, D.F. Impact of population characteristics on Illinois childcare adoption of integrated pest management (IPM). J Public Health 20, 431–440 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-011-0480-9

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