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Child care centers largely unprepared for influenza pandemics
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Only 7% of child care directors within the United States reported that their centers had taken adequate steps to prevent the spread of influenza during an outbreak, despite prior experience with the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, according to research published in Pediatrics.
“Public health officials try to mitigate spread in early stages of a pandemic by using nonpharmaceutical interventions, such as respiratory etiquette, hand hygiene and social distancing,” Timothy R. Shope, MD, MPH, FAAP, from the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, and colleagues wrote. “Because influenza is spread primarily through droplets, and children under 5 years of age do not effectively practice these nonpharmaceutical interventions, the options for preventing spread in these settings are limited.”
The researchers also note that seasonal influenza vaccination would not be effective in the initial stages of a pandemic as an effective vaccine would not be available, and school closures for this demographic may be warranted.
To examine the reports submitted by directors of child care centers regarding their preparedness for potential influenza pandemic before and after the 2009 H1N1, the researchers randomly selected centers through a national database and questioned them via a telephone-based survey.
The responses provided information on general infection control, communication, seasonal influenza control, use of health consultants, quality of child care and perceived barriers. These data were then used by the researchers to estimate pandemic influenza preparedness.
In 2008, when 1,500 directors of child care centers were surveyed, the overall preparedness for an influenza pandemic was determined to be low. During the follow-up survey of 518 centers in 2016, researchers observed that overall preparedness had not improved. Moreover, directors who had been in the position during the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic had no significant impact on the overall preparedness of their center.
A positive correlation was observed between influenza pandemic preparation and length of time spent in the director’s position. Conversely, not knowing what to do in the event of a pandemic situation and other perceived barriers were negatively associated with preparedness.
“Given the low pandemic influenza knowledge and preparedness of child care center directors, in a future pandemic — as occurred in the 2009 pandemic — pediatric health care providers will likely be consulted by concerned parents who have questions about how to prevent pandemic influenza, exclusion policies and possible center closures,” Shope and colleagues wrote. “Pediatric health care providers should be aware that there are CDC recommendations for pandemic influenza mitigation in child care settings.” — by Katherine Bortz
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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