Perception of Environmental Risks and Health Promotion Attitudes of French Perinatal Health Professionals

Cécile Marie, Didier Lémery, Françoise Vendittelli and Marie-Pierre Sauvant-Rochat
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Cécile Marie: EA 4681, PEPRADE, Clermont Université, Université d’Auvergne, 28 Place Henri-Dunant BP 38, 63001 Clermont-Ferrand, France
Didier Lémery: EA 4681, PEPRADE, Clermont Université, Université d’Auvergne, 28 Place Henri-Dunant BP 38, 63001 Clermont-Ferrand, France
Françoise Vendittelli: EA 4681, PEPRADE, Clermont Université, Université d’Auvergne, 28 Place Henri-Dunant BP 38, 63001 Clermont-Ferrand, France
Marie-Pierre Sauvant-Rochat: EA 4681, PEPRADE, Clermont Université, Université d’Auvergne, 28 Place Henri-Dunant BP 38, 63001 Clermont-Ferrand, France

IJERPH, 2016, vol. 13, issue 12, 1-16

Abstract: The exposure of pregnant women to environmental contaminants is a subject of international concern. However, the risk perception of these contaminants by health professionals (HP) has not been extensively investigated. The main objective of the PERI–HELPE study (Perception of Risk–HEaLth Professionals & Environment Study) was to assess the risk perception of environmental exposure of pregnant women by perinatal HPs. The secondary objectives were to describe the preventive attitudes of perinatal HPs concerning chemicals exposure of pregnant women and to identify the barriers to preventive attitude. A cross-sectional study was performed in 2015 in France. One hundred eighty-nine HPs (obstetricians, midwives, and general practitioners) replied to an online self-administered questionnaire (participation rate: 11%). Carbon monoxide, pesticides and lead were the contaminants most frequently perceived as a high risk for pregnant women. A minority of HPs asked women about their chemical exposure and advised them to reduce exposure. The lack of information, training and scientific evidence in environmental health were the main difficulties declared by the HPs to advise pregnant women. Despite the low response rate, our findings provide important information to encourage French health authorities to take into account the difficulties encountered by HPs and set up appropriate training programs in Environmental health.

Keywords: environmental chemicals; reproductive health; environmental health; perinatal health professionals; preventive attitude; risk perception (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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