Abstract Overview:
In France, the First 1000 Days Program, under the National Health Strategy, emphasizes the significant impact of early environmental exposures—particularly to endocrine disruptors— on long-term health. This period of vulnerability requires coordinated action among perinatal professionals, such as midwives and early childhood practitioners, to promote healthier environments and raise awareness of environmental risks among families.

Aims and Objectives:
The Promotion of Environmental Health at the Territorial Health Level (ProSET) study explores the knowledge, perceptions, and practices of these professionals in relation to environmental health and the “first 1000 days”. It also assesses interprofessional collaboration and identifies support needs to strengthen their role in prevention.

Method:
An exploratory qualitative study was conducted in a rural area of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, involving 20 purposively selected participants: midwives, pediatric nurses, and childminders. Semi-structured interviews were recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed using NVivo 15, with dual coding and cross-validation until data saturation.

Results:
Participants showed strong awareness of environmental issues but had uneven and informal knowledge, especially about the First 1000 Days Program. Both early childhood professionals and midwives reported a lack of training in environmental health despite strong interest. Practices were often empirical and limited by institutional constraints. All groups stressed the need for practical tools, appropriate training, and structured interprofessional collaboration. Shared framework, regular communication, and coordinated territorial actions were seen as key enablers.

Conclusion:
Integrating environmental health into perinatal and early childhood professional practices presents a key opportunity for early prevention. Strengthening interprofessional collaboration and acknowledging midwives’ pivotal role would help break down silos and embed environmental health promotion in local public health policies.