Effectiveness of Urban Childcare Center Indoor Air Quality Management Program (UCC-IAQ) on building related symptoms among care takes :a quasi experimental study

Abstract

This study investigates the effectiveness of the UCC-IAQ program in Thai childcare centers, focusing on BRS and indoor air pollution. It involves 81 childcare workers in Nonthaburi and Saraburi provinces, Over eight hours, air quality measurements were taken at ten settings. Data on BRS and building-related factors were collected via surveys.

Statistically significant differences in pollution levels were not observed between the UCC-IAQ program's intervention and comparison groups. However, the intervention group experienced a significant decrease in BRS compared to the comparison group. Caretakers in rooms with rapid temperature variations had a 10.72 times higher likelihood of experiencing BRS (Adjusted odds ratio = 10.72, 95% CI = 2.65 - 43.41, p-value = 0.001). Furthermore, the use of aerosol air fresheners increased caretakers' symptom incidence by 5.54 times (Adjusted odds ratio = 5.54, 95% CI = 1.74 - 17.62, p-value = 0.004). This study indicates that the implementation of the UCC-IAQ program in childcare centers has an effect on BRS among caretakers, particularly in the intervention group. In addition, the researchers found that sudden changes in temperature in buildings and the use of room air fresheners had a significant impact on the BRS of childcare center caregivers.