Examining women’s knowledge, health risk perceptions, beliefs and behaviours in relation to toxic chemicals commonly found in personal care and household products: a mixed-methods approach

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorBarakat, Caroline
dc.contributor.authorTrifunovski, Adrianna
dc.date.accessioned2024-08-27T19:05:36Z
dc.date.available2024-08-27T19:05:36Z
dc.date.issued2024-08-01
dc.degree.disciplineCommunity, Public and Population Health
dc.degree.levelMaster of Health Sciences (MHSc)
dc.description.abstractMany personal care and household products (PCHP) contain toxic chemicals harmful to health. For instance, parabens, commonly found in shampoos, are endocrine disruptors that increase the risk of hormonal and reproductive disorders among women. Despite safer alternatives, research suggests women are unaware of these risks and options. This research used a mixed-methods approach to examine knowledge, health risk perceptions, beliefs, and avoidance behavior of women regarding toxic chemicals in PCHP. It focused on lead, parabens, bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, triclosan, and perchloroethylene. A questionnaire was administered to 200 women, and 10 women participated in virtual interviews. Multivariate analysis found positive associations between avoidance of lead, parabens, BPA, and phthalates and knowledge, perceived health risks, and harm beliefs. Higher education and chemical sensitivity diagnoses increased lead avoidance. Factors influencing PCHP purchases included price, social media, effectiveness, and brand preference. The study emphasizes enhancing women’s knowledge about PCHP health risks and the importance of safer alternatives.
dc.description.sponsorshipUniversity of Ontario Institute of Technology
dc.identifier.urihttps://ontariotechu.scholaris.ca/handle/10155/1835
dc.language.isoen
dc.subject.otherEDCs
dc.subject.otherPersonal care products
dc.subject.otherWomen
dc.subject.otherPerceptions
dc.subject.otherBehaviours
dc.titleExamining women’s knowledge, health risk perceptions, beliefs and behaviours in relation to toxic chemicals commonly found in personal care and household products: a mixed-methods approach
dc.typeThesis
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Trifunovski_Adrianna.pdf
Size:
2.17 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.89 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Master Theses & Projects (FHSCI)