Illness-related (infectious disease–related) absences among children (birth to 5 years) attending Head Start early care and education (ECE) classrooms
Conditions
Interventions
OK-AIR is a longitudinal, pragmatic cluster-randomised trial in Oklahoma Head Start/ECE classrooms enrolling children aged birth to 5 years. The unit of randomisation is the classroom (cluster), neste
placement based on room volume and coverage
filters replaced on the recommended schedule
units secured to prevent children from switching them off), (3) Upper-room UVGI (wall-mounted fixtures creating an irradiated upper-room zone
installed and commissioned to maintain occupant exposure below applicable safety limits
lamps maintained per manufacturer guidance), and (4) Combined (portable filtration + upper-room UVGI).
Cohort 2 (2025–2026): Cohort 2 was originally planned as a second factorial cohort but was amend
Cohort 2 retains portable filtration only.
Data collection: Child attendance and absence reasons are recorded daily by classroom teachers using a standardized log. Classrooms undergo continuous IAQ
Sponsors
University of Oklahoma
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
0 Years to 5 Years
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: Head Start centers and classrooms: 1. Head Start centers in Oklahoma willing to participate in the OK-AIR study 2. Classrooms able and willing to participate in study procedures, including installation/operation of assigned intervention(s) (portable filtration and/or upper-room UVGI, where applicable), continuous indoor air quality monitoring, daily attendance and absence-reason logging, and seasonal environmental surface sampling. Children participants: 1. Child is enrolled in a participating Head Start classroom during the study period 2. Child is within the eligible age range (birth to 5 years) at enrollment 3. Parent/guardian provides informed consent for the child’s participation and data collection (including attendance outcomes and teacher-rated DECA, as applicable) 4. Parent/guardian provides HIPAA authorization for release of the child’s Head Start health records (where applicable/required by the study). School staff participants: Classroom teacher(s)/staff and center leadership in participating sites who agree to complete study procedures relevant to their role (e.g., attendance logs, surveys, DECA ratings).
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: Head Start centers and classrooms 1. Classrooms are excluded if physical constraints prevent safe/feasible installation of required intervention equipment (e.g., ceiling height or room layout constraints for upper-room UVGI) 2. Classroom/center declines required study procedures (installation/monitoring/sampling/attendance logging). Individual participants: 1. Child is not enrolled in a participating classroom/center or outside the eligible age range 2. Parent/guardian does not provide required consent (and HIPAA authorization where applicable), such that child-level outcomes cannot be included per study procedures.
Countries
United States of America
Contacts
Public ContactDiane;Changjie Horm;Cai
;
Outcome results
None listed