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Improving Knowledge about Children’s Environmental Health in Northwest China

Author

Listed:
  • Jingping Niu

    (Departments of Environmental Medicine, Lanzhou University School of Public Health, 199 Donggang Xi Lu, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China)

  • Qingshan Qu

    (Department of Pediatrics, New York University School of Medicine, 227 East 30th Street, Rm 735, New York, NY 10016, USA)

  • Juansheng Li

    (Departments of Environmental Medicine, Lanzhou University School of Public Health, 199 Donggang Xi Lu, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China)

  • Xingrong Liu

    (Departments of Environmental Medicine, Lanzhou University School of Public Health, 199 Donggang Xi Lu, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China)

  • Benzhong Zhang

    (Departments of Environmental Medicine, Lanzhou University School of Public Health, 199 Donggang Xi Lu, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China)

  • Zhilan Li

    (Departments of Environmental Medicine, Lanzhou University School of Public Health, 199 Donggang Xi Lu, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China)

  • Guowu Ding

    (Departments of Environmental Medicine, Lanzhou University School of Public Health, 199 Donggang Xi Lu, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China)

  • Yingbiao Sun

    (Departments of Environmental Medicine, Lanzhou University School of Public Health, 199 Donggang Xi Lu, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China)

  • Yanrong Shi

    (Departments of Environmental Medicine, Lanzhou University School of Public Health, 199 Donggang Xi Lu, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China)

  • Yaxiong Wan

    (Departments of Environmental Medicine, Lanzhou University School of Public Health, 199 Donggang Xi Lu, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China)

  • Xiaobin Hu

    (Departments of Environmental Medicine, Lanzhou University School of Public Health, 199 Donggang Xi Lu, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China)

  • Lung-Chi Chen

    (Department of Pediatrics, New York University School of Medicine, 227 East 30th Street, Rm 735, New York, NY 10016, USA)

  • Alan Mendelsohn

    (Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine/Bellevue Hospital Center, New York, NY 10016, USA
    New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA)

  • Yu Chen

    (Departments of Environmental Medicine, Lanzhou University School of Public Health, 199 Donggang Xi Lu, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
    New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA)

  • Leonardo Trasande

    (Department of Pediatrics, New York University School of Medicine, 227 East 30th Street, Rm 735, New York, NY 10016, USA
    Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine/Bellevue Hospital Center, New York, NY 10016, USA
    New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
    Wagner School of Public Service, New York University, New York, NY 10012, USA)

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to identify policy maker opinions and attitudes towards children’s environmental health (CEH), potential barriers to child-specific protective legislation and implementation in northwest China, and evaluate knowledge and attitudes about CEH before and after an educational conference. We conducted seventy-two interviews with regional officials, researchers and non-governmental organization representatives from five provinces, and surveyed participants (forty-seven) before and after an educational conference in northwest China about CEH. Interviews identified general consensus among participants of the adverse effects of air pollution on children, yet few participants knew of policies to protect them. Barriers identified included limited funding and enforcement, weak regional governments and absence of child-specific policy-making. After the conference, substantially greater self-efficacy was identified for lead, mercury, air pollution and polychlorinated biphenyls (+0.57–0.72 on a 1–5 Likert scale, p = 0.002–0.013), and the scientific knowledge for the role of environment in children’s health (+0.58, p = 0.015), and health care provider control (+0.52, p = 0.025) were rated more strongly. We conclude that policy makers in Northwest China appreciate that children are uniquely vulnerable, though additional regulations are needed to account for that vulnerability. Further research should examine effectiveness of the intervention on a larger scale and scope, and evaluate the usefulness of such interventions in translating research into improved care/reduced exposure to environmental hazards.

Suggested Citation

  • Jingping Niu & Qingshan Qu & Juansheng Li & Xingrong Liu & Benzhong Zhang & Zhilan Li & Guowu Ding & Yingbiao Sun & Yanrong Shi & Yaxiong Wan & Xiaobin Hu & Lung-Chi Chen & Alan Mendelsohn & Yu Chen &, 2015. "Improving Knowledge about Children’s Environmental Health in Northwest China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:13:y:2015:i:1:p:80-:d:61278
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    References listed on IDEAS

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