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Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Death From COVID-19 as Context for Early Childhood Education

Educational Objective
To identify the key insights or developments described in this article

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JAMA Pediatrics

November 1, 2021

Research Letter

Article Information and Disclosures

Robert C. Whitaker, MD, MPH^1,2,3;

Allison N. Herman, MEd, MPH^1,2,3;

Tracy Dearth-Wesley, PhD, MPH^1,2,3

Author Affiliations

¹Columbia-Bassett Program, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York
²Bassett Medical Center, Cooperstown, New York
³Bassett Research Institute, Cooperstown, New York

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, preschool-aged children have garnered less attention than older children. The pandemic may affect preschoolers through its effects on the early childhood education (ECE) professionals who teach them. We describe the prevalence of COVID-19–associated deaths among family members and close friends of ECE professionals. These data may reflect the socioeconomic and health inequities experienced by the ECE workforce. These inequities were present before the pandemic,¹^,2 may have been exacerbated by it, and affect the quality of education children receive.

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Article Information

Accepted for Publication: May 25, 2021.

Published Online: August 2, 2021. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.2348

Corresponding Author: Robert C. Whitaker, MD, MPH, Bassett Medical Center, 1 Atwell Rd, Cooperstown, NY 13326 (robert.whitaker@bassett.org).

Author Contributions: Dr Whitaker had full access to all of the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.

Concept and design: Whitaker.

Acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data: All authors.

Drafting of the manuscript: Whitaker.

Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: All authors.

Statistical analysis: Whitaker, Dearth-Wesley.

Obtained funding: Whitaker.

Administrative, technical, or material support: Whitaker, Herman.

Supervision: Whitaker.

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: Drs Whitaker, Herman, and Dearth-Wesley reported grants from First Up (grant 210001) during the conduct of the study and United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey (grant 17958) outside the submitted work.

Funding/Support: This study was supported by First Up (grant 210001).

Role of the Funder/Sponsor: The funder had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

References

Whitebook M , Phillips D , Howes C . Worthy Work, STILL Unlivable Wages: the Early Childhood Workforce 25 Years After the National Child Care Staffing Study. Published 2014. Accessed May 24, 2021. https://cscce.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/ReportFINAL.pdf

Whitaker RC , Becker BD , Herman AN , Gooze RA . The physical and mental health of Head Start staff: the Pennsylvania Head Start staff wellness survey, 2012. Prev Chronic Dis. 2013;10:E181. doi:10.5888/pcd10.130171 PubMed Google Scholar

US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. US Department of Health and Human Services implementation guidance on data collection standards for race, ethnicity, sex, primary language, and disability status. Published October 2011. Accessed May 24, 2021. https://aspe.hhs.gov/basic-report/hhs-implementation-guidance-data-collection-standards-race-ethnicity-sex-primary-language-and-disability-status

Chen JT , Krieger N . Revealing the unequal burden of COVID-19 by income, race/ethnicity, and household crowding: US county versus zip code analyses. J Public Health Manag Pract. 2021;27(1)(Suppl 1):S43-S56. doi:10.1097/PHH.0000000000001263 PubMed Google Scholar Crossref

Whitaker RC , Dearth-Wesley T , Gooze RA . Workplace stress and the quality of teacher–children relationships in Head Start. Early Child Res Q. 2015;30:57-69. doi:10.1016/j.ecresq.2014.08.008 Google Scholar Crossref

Shapiro E . Why child care staff had to show up while teachers worked remotely. Published March 21, 2021. Accessed May 24, 2021. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/19/nyregion/child-care-teachers-schools-covid.html

Death From COVID-19 as Context for Early Childhood Education

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