Establishment of a model regulation of diaper disposal in childcare facilities

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K14163
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 09030:Childhood and nursery/pre-school education-related
• Research Institution: Kobe Tokiwa University
• Principal Investigator: Miura Makiko 神戸常盤大学, 保健科学部, 特命講師 (00610320)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: おむつ / 持ち帰り / 保育 / 感染対策

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to clarify the current situation regarding how used diaper was disposed in childcare facilities, to examine diaper changing methods to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, and to reduce the burden of diaper disposal for nursery teachers and parents. The results of a questionnaire in 2019 revealed that 26.5% (22/83) of childcare facilities request parents to carry home soiled diapers for disposal. However, in 2023, all respondent facilities did not have parents carried home soiled diapers, suggesting a change in social awareness. Meanwhile, a contamination status survey showed that changing diapers may contaminate the surrounding area regardless of whether soiled diapers are carried home or not. It is therefore suggested that there is a need for the diaper changing procedure that can be carried out on a daily basis to be standardized at all childcare facilities.

Free Research Field

微生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

保育施設における使用済みオムツの現状と課題を明らかにしたことは、子育て支援や感染対策において重要である。研究期間内に、使用済みオムツを持ち帰りにしている施設数が減少したことから、本研究も使用済みオムツの持ち帰りに関する社会的な意識の変化に寄与できたことが考えられた。また、保育施設で日常的に実施可能かつ感染症を広めないための交換方法を提案できたことは、病原微生物による感染拡大の防止につながり、高い社会的意義を有するものである。