An Evaluation of Health and Safety Hazards in Family Based Day Care Homes in Philadelphia

摘要

In Pennsylvania, Family Day Care Homes (FDCH) are private residences used to care for up to six children in a 24 h period. These homes are often times the most affordable alternative to day care centers parents have in low-income communities. The aims of this study were to evaluate FDCH providers' knowledge of hazards and their understanding of actions required to mediate hazards. It also objectively assesses the presence of hazards in the home-based childcare facilities in low-income neighborhoods of Philadelphia. Results indicate that while hazard awareness levels among providers were relatively high, action to remove these hazards was not present in many of the homes. These findings suggest that training and enabling FDCH providers on how to carry out safety behavior is warranted to ensure improved safety conditions in these environments.