Identifying contextually relevant lead exposures and risk practices/behaviors in Botswana and assessing caregiver lead knowledge levels

Abstract

AbstractLead poisoning accounts for about 0.6% of the global burden of the disease; however, lead poisoning is under researched in low- and middle-income countries. We conducted this study to assess the risk factors associated with lead exposures, and we also assessed lead knowledge levels among caregivers of children under the age of 6 years. We administered a survey to 145 caregivers to collect demographic, socio-economic, housing and lead exposure information, and administered the validated Chicago Lead Knowledge Test (CLKT). Chi-square tests were used to describe the association between housing characteristics. 70 %, 55 % and 49 % of caregivers, respectively, reported seeing their children place these objects into their mouths, keys, jewelry and soil. Sixty-three percent of the respondents reported living near a busy road, and 46 % of the respondents reported visibly damaged paint in their homes. An association was observed between age of home and presence of damaged paint (P-value = 0.04). The median score on the CLKT was 50%. Over 50% of the participants incorrectly believed that most cases of childhood lead poisoning are caused by drinking water that contains lead, and 39% of the participants believed lead could be removed from water by boiling. These incorrect responses suggest the need to design interventions to increase awareness of sources of lead. Based on the high prevalence of risk factors for lead poisoning and the low lead knowledge score of caregivers, it may be beneficial to design education interventions to address knowledge gaps and empower individuals to prevent childhood lead exposure.

Keywords

• Lead exposures
• awareness
• parents/caregivers
• children
• Gaborone Botswana