Household Responses to School Closure During Influenza Outbreak
Author Information
Author(s): Johnson April J., Moore Zack S., Edelson Paul J., Kinnane Lynda, Davies Megan, Shay David K., Balish Amanda, McCarron Meg, Blanton Lenee, Finelli Lyn, Averhoff Francisco, Bresee Joseph, Engel Jeffrey, Fiore Anthony
Primary Institution: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Hypothesis
How do families respond to school closures during an influenza outbreak?
Conclusion
Most households accepted the school closure, but many children still visited public places, which could affect pandemic planning.
Supporting Evidence
- 91% of households thought the school closure was appropriate.
- 89% of children visited at least one public location during the closure.
- Only 10% of households required special childcare arrangements.
Takeaway
When schools closed because of the flu, most parents thought it was a good idea, but many kids still went out to public places.
Methodology
Questionnaires were administered to 220 households with school-age children during an influenza B outbreak.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in responses due to self-reporting and the specific context of a rural community.
Limitations
Results may not be generalizable to other communities due to the unique characteristics of the rural population.
Participant Demographics
Households included 438 adults and 355 children, with a median child age of 12 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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