Petite enfance et sante environnementale (pense) : raising the awareness of healthcare personnel on perinatal environmental exposures

Abstract

Pregnant women and their infants are considered vulnerable groups in the community. Petite ENfance et Santé Environnementale (PENSE) project, conducted by Health and Environmental Response Agency (HERA) NGO, offered a guide dedicated to healthcare professionals to help them raise the awareness of pregnant women and new mothers on the precautionary measures to take to limit their exposure to indoor environmental pollutant, and the safe usage of chemical products while preserving their health and that of their fetus. The project aims to explore to what extent the awareness and training of perinatal health professionals as well as future mothers at the clinic and the hospital could lead to a change in the attitude and behavior of mothers during pregnancy and the first 1000 days of infancy. It also aims to raise awareness and educate future mothers about indoor environmental exposures to reduce the harmful impact of pollutants on their health, and on the development of their children The intern’s practicum, during which the first phase of the project was implemented, was conducted from October to December 2022. PENSE project follows an ecological approach where the health of children and their mothers must be at the center of concerns. By promoting protective environmental actions, patients will have the skills required to improve their well-being and their health. A guide for healthcare professionals was developed, and a one-day training for trainers was coordinated and implemented at Prof. Georges Abi Tayeh’s clinic – in Beirut. The assessment showed a positive attitude of the healthcare professional, which is an excellent indicator of the success of the 1st phase of the PENSE project, and a positive sign regarding the implementation of the next phase.