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Need for Improved Risk Communication of Fish Consumption Advisories to Protect Maternal and Child Health: Influence of Primary Informants

Author

Listed:
  • Catherine E. LePrevost

    (Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, North Carolina State University, Box 7633, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA)

  • Kathleen M. Gray

    (UNC Institute for the Environment, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 137 E. Franklin Street, Suite 602, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA)

  • Mercedes Hernández-Pelletier

    (Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Public Health, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, 1912 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699, USA)

  • Brennan D. Bouma

    (UNC Institute for the Environment, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 137 E. Franklin Street, Suite 602, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA)

  • Consuelo Arellano

    (Department of Statistics, North Carolina State University, Box 8203, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA)

  • W. Gregory Cope

    (Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, North Carolina State University, Box 7633, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA)

Abstract

Fish consumption has established benefits, including the promotion of cardiovascular health and pre- and neonatal brain and eye development, but local freshwater fish may be a source of contaminants that are especially harmful to fetuses and young children, such as the neurotoxic and developmentally toxic methylmercury and polychlorinated biphenyls. Fish consumption advisories may be issued by state health departments to limit human exposure to these and other toxicants. This study examined the efficacy of a sign designed by the North Carolina Division of Public Health that was posted along a reservoir (Badin Lake) in central North Carolina, USA, for increasing anglers’ awareness of a fish consumption advisory, with a special focus on anglers who share their catch with women and children. In this study, 109 anglers were interviewed about their awareness of fish consumption advisories in general and their knowledge of the Badin Lake fish advisory in particular. Shore anglers were significantly less likely to be aware of the term “fish consumption advisory” and of the specific advisory for Badin Lake than boat anglers. Although a significant increase in knowledge of the specific fish consumption advisory was found for the entire sample of study participants after the sign intervention, a commensurate increase in knowledge was not found for a subsample of anglers who reported sharing their catch with women and children. Study findings underscore differences in fish consumption advisory awareness among subpopulations. Specifically, the study revealed the importance of characterizing the communication needs of shore anglers and anglers who share their catch with sensitive subpopulations (e.g., women and children) for the creation of more targeted communications of fish consumption advisories.

Suggested Citation

  • Catherine E. LePrevost & Kathleen M. Gray & Mercedes Hernández-Pelletier & Brennan D. Bouma & Consuelo Arellano & W. Gregory Cope, 2013. "Need for Improved Risk Communication of Fish Consumption Advisories to Protect Maternal and Child Health: Influence of Primary Informants," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-15, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:10:y:2013:i:5:p:1720-1734:d:25383
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gochfeld, M. & Burger, J., 2011. "Disproportionate exposures in environmental justice and other populations: The importance of outliers," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 101(SUPPL. 1), pages 53-63.
    2. Joanna Burger & Melanie Hughes McDermott & Caron Chess & Eleanor Bochenek & Marla Perez‐Lugo & Kerry Kirk Pflugh, 2003. "Evaluating Risk Communication about Fish Consumption Advisories: Efficacy of a Brochure versus a Classroom Lesson in Spanish and English," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 23(4), pages 791-803, August.
    3. Joanna Burger & Sheila Shukla & Megan Fitzgerald & Suzie Flores & Caron Chess, 2008. "Fish consumption: efficacy among fishermen of a brochure developed for pregnant women," Journal of Risk Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 11(7), pages 891-904, October.
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