A primary health-care intervention on pre- and postnatal risk factor behavior to prevent childhood allergy. The Prevention of Allergy among Children in Trondheim (PACT) study

摘要

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a primary prevention intervention program on riskbehavior for allergic diseases among children up to 2 years of age. The setting was in ordinary pre- and postnatalprimary health care in Trondheim, Norway.Methods: The Prevention of Allergy among Children in Trondheim, Norway (PACT) study invited all pregnantwomen and parents to children up to 2 years of age in the community to participate in a non-randomized,controlled, multiple life-style intervention study. Interventional topics was increased dietary intake of cod liver oiland oily fish for women during pregnancy and for infants during the first 2 years of life, reduced parental smokingand reduced indoor dampness. A control cohort was established prior to the intervention cohort with “follow upas usual”. Questionnaires were completed in pregnancy, 6 weeks after birth and at 1 and 2 years of age. Trends inexposure and behavior are described.Results: Intake of oily fish and cod liver oil increased statistically significantly among women and infants in theintervention cohort compared to the control cohort. There was a low postnatal smoking prevalence in bothcohorts, with a trend towards a decreasing smoking prevalence in the control cohort. There was no change inindoor dampness or in behavior related to non- intervened life-style factors.Conclusions: The dietary intervention seemed to be successful. The observed reduced smoking behavior couldnot be attributed to the intervention program, and the latter had no effect on indoor dampness.