American Journal of Epidemiology Vol. 131, No. 1: 124-131
Copyright © 1990 by The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health
research-article |
ACUTE GASTROINTESTINAL ILLNESS AND CHILD CARE ARRANGEMENTS
1Department of Maternal and Child Health, The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health Baltimore, MD
2Department of Health Policy and Management, The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health Baltimore, MD
3Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control Atlanta, GA
Reprint requests to Dr. Cheryl S. Alexander, Depertment of Maternal and Child Health, The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, Hampton House, Room 191,624 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205
This study uses data from the 1981 National Health Interview and the 1981 Child Health Supplement to assess the extent to which family day care homes and child care centers pose a risk of acute gastrointestinal illness among preschool children. The study uses a nationally representative sample of children 0–5 years of age (n=4,845). Acute gastrointestinal illness was identified from parental reports of acute illness in a 2-week period. Information on type and duration of child care, as well as a variety of sociodemographic and environmental factors (e.g., crowding, seasonality), were obtained. The authors hypothesize that risk of acute gastrointestinal illness would vary by group size. Center attendees were thought to have the greatest exposure to infectious agents, followed by children in day care homes, and lastly by those receiving care in their own homes. Risk models were estimated separately for children <3 years of age and for children aged 3–5 years. Our results show that an elevated risk of acute gastrointestinal illness associated with child care is confined to children <3 years of age who regulaily attend centers/nursery schools (odds ratio=3.49, 95% confidence interval 0.99–4.77), controlling for other confounding variables. For children aged 3–5 years, low socioeconomic status, poverty, and seasonality are stronger predictors of acute gastrointestinal illness than is center care. Family day care appears to be unrelated to the risk of illness for both age groups.
acute disease; child care; gastrointestinal diseases
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  J. B. Kotch, P. Isbell, D. J. Weber, V. Nguyen, E. Savage, E. Gunn, M. Skinner, S. Fowlkes, J. Virk, and J. Allen Hand-Washing and Diapering Equipment Reduces Disease Among Children in Out-of-Home Child Care Centers Pediatrics, July 1, 2007; 120(1): e29 - e36. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. Zaslow, T. Halle, L. Martin, N. Cabrera, J. Calkins, L. Pitzer, and N. G. Margie Child Outcome Measures in the Study of Child Care Quality Eval Rev, October 1, 2006; 30(5): 577 - 610. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 National Institute of Child Health and Human Devel Child Care and Common Communicable Illnesses in Children Aged 37 to 54 Months Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, February 1, 2003; 157(2): 196 - 200. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
The National Institute of Child Health and Human D Child Care and Common Communicable Illnesses: Results From the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, April 1, 2001; 155(4): 481 - 488. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. L. Cordell, S. H. Waterman, A. Chang, M. Saruwatari, M. Brown, and S. L. Solomon Provider-Reported Illness and Absence Due to Illness Among Children Attending Child-Care Homes and Centers in San Diego, Calif Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, March 1, 1999; 153(3): 275 - 280. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. L. Cordell, J. K. MacDonald, S. L. Solomon, L. A. Jackson, and J. Boase Illnesses and Absence Due to Illness Among Children Attending Child Care Facilities in Seattle-King County, Washington Pediatrics, November 1, 1997; 100(5): 850 - 855. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 N. Merrick, B. Davidson, and S. Fox Treatment of Acute Gastroenteritis: Too Much and Too Little Care Clinical Pediatrics, September 1, 1996; 35(9): 429 - 435. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. B. Thacker, D. G. Addiss, R. A. Goodman, B. R. Holloway, and H. C. Spencer Infectious Diseases and Injuries in Child Day Care: Opportunities for Healthier Children JAMA, October 7, 1992; 268(13): 1720 - 1726. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|