Knowledge, confidence, and reported behaviors that promote safe water drinking among women of reproductive age.

Introduction: Drinking lead contaminated water during pregnancy is associated with infant mortality. All women of reproductive age are advised by health agencies to adhere to healthy behaviors due to the chance of unintended pregnancy. Our objectives are to understand knowledge, confidence, and reported behaviors that promote safe water drinking and prevent lead exposure among women of reproductive age. Methods: A survey among females of reproductive age from the University of Michigan - Flint was administered. A total of 83 females who wished to become pregnant one day participated. Results: Low levels of knowledge, confidence, and reported preventative health behaviors related to safe water drinking and lead exposure prevention existed. Specifically, 71.1% of respondents (59 of 83) were not at all or were somewhat confident in their ability to choose an appropriate lead water filter. Most participants rated their knowledge on how to decrease exposure to lead during pregnancy as poor/fair. No statistically significant differences were detected between respondents residing inside and outside of the city of Flint, Michigan for most variables assessed. Conclusion: While the small sample size is a limitation, the study adds to an area of scarce research. Despite widespread media attention and resources directed toward reducing the negative health effects of lead exposure following the Flint Water Crisis, significant gaps in knowledge related to safe water drinking remain. Interventions are needed to increase knowledge, confidence, and healthy behaviors that promote safe water drinking among women of reproductive age.

Telehealth Use in Pediatric Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study on the Perspectives of Caregivers.

This qualitative study surveyed caregivers regarding their perspectives on the benefits of, challenges with, and suggestions for improving telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Caregivers who had the responsibility for caring for at least one child aged under 18 years of age in Genesee County, MI, participated. The caregivers were biological parents, stepparents, foster parents, adoptive parents, and guardians. A total of 105 caregivers completed a survey with open-ended questions via Qualtrics. Two independent coders developed themes based on the responses using grounded theory. Participants were primarily biological parents and non-Hispanic White and African Americans. According to the participants, the benefits of telehealth included prevention of exposure to the COVID-19 virus, quality communication with physicians, savings in travel time, and cost-effective methods to receive care. The challenges included a lack of in-person interaction, fear of compromised confidentiality, and the potential for misdiagnosis. Suggestions for improvement by caregivers included increasing access to telehealth for poorer families, offering a media educational campaign to promote telehealth use, and creating a universal platform to share patient information. Future studies may test the effectiveness of interventions such as those suggested by caregivers in this study to improve telehealth.

Strategies to Promote Safe Water Drinking Identified by and for Women of Reproductive Age.

PURPOSE: The Flint, Michigan, water crisis (2014 to present) increased awareness of the dangers of lead-contaminated water. Consumption of lead-contaminated water is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. The purpose of this research was to identify intervention strategies to decrease consumption of lead-contaminated water among women of reproductive age. APPROACH: Qualitative data were collected via an online survey consisting of open-ended questions among 63 women and 3 focus groups among 27 women. SETTING: The University of Michigan-Flint. METHOD: Qualitative data were analyzed utilizing a grounded theory approach. RESULTS: Participants recommended professional educational reading materials regarding lead be placed in public places. Women highlighted the need for interventions where women, partners, and relatives test water in homes, install water filters, cook lead-mitigating meals, and receive education on the pregnancy risks of consuming contaminated water. CONCLUSION: The study offers women perspectives on strategies to decrease consumption of lead-contaminated water. Future investigations may examine the influence of such strategies on knowledge and behaviors that promote safe water drinking.