American Journal of Public Health
Volume 108, Issue 2, 2018, Pages 270-276

Elevated Blood Lead Levels by Length of Time From Resettlement to Health Screening in Kentucky Refugee Children (Article)

Kotey S. , Carrico R. , Wiemken T.L. , Furmanek S. , Bosson R. , Nyantakyi F. , VanHeiden S. , Mattingly W. , Zierold K.M.*
  • a Department of BioInformatics and Biostatistics, School of Public Health and Information Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, United States
  • b Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Louisville, United States
  • c Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, School of Public Health and Information Sciences, University of Louisville, United States
  • d Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Louisville, United States
  • e Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Louisville, United States
  • f Pediatric Society of Ghana, Kumasi, Ghana
  • g Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Louisville, United States
  • h Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Louisville, United States
  • i Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, School of Public Health and Information Sciences, University of Louisville, United States

Abstract

Objectives. To examine elevated blood lead levels (EBLLs) in refugee children by postrelocation duration with control for several covariates. Methods. We assessed EBLLs (‡ 5mg/dL) between 2012 and 2016 of children younger than 15 years (n = 1950) by the duration of resettlement to health screening by using logistic regression, with control for potential confounders (gender, region of birth, age of housing, and intestinal infestation) in a cross-sectional study. Results. Prevalence of EBLLs was 11.2%. Length of time from resettlement to health screening was inversely associated with EBLLs (tertile 2 unadjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.79; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.56, 1.12; tertile 3 OR = 0.62; 95% CI = 0.42, 0.90; tertile 2 adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.62; 95% CI = 0.39, 0.97; tertile 3 AOR = 0.57; 95% CI = 0.34, 0.93). There was a significant interaction between intestinal infestation and age of housing (P < .003), indicating significant risk in the joint exposure of intestinal infestation (a pica proxy) and age of house. Conclusions. Elevated blood lead levels were reduced with increasing length of time of resettlement in unadjusted and adjusted models. Improved housing, early education, and effective safe-house inspections may be necessary to address EBLLs in refugees.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

mass screening Population Surveillance human Lead Poisoning Kentucky statistics and numerical data housing Cross-Sectional Studies cross-sectional study Humans Adolescent Infant, Newborn lead male preschool child female Infant Child, Preschool environmental exposure newborn prevalence prevention and control standards blood Child health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85040549405&doi=10.2105%2fAJPH.2017.304115&partnerID=40&md5=01be5cbcc74cd0548eac9a6297ee1fbf
DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2017.304115
ISSN: 00900036
Cited by: 4
Original Language: English