Stanley Kotey1, Ruth Carrico1, Timothy Lee Wiemken1, Stephen Furmanek1, Rahel Bosson1, Florence Nyantakyi1, Sarah VanHeiden1, William Mattingly1, Kristina M Zierold1. 1. Stanley Kotey is with the Department of BioInformatics and Biostatistics, School of Public Health and Information Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY. Ruth Carrico, Stephen Furmanek, Rahel Bosson, Sarah VanHeiden, and William Mattingly are with the Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Louisville. Timothy Lee Wiemken and Kristina M. Zierold are with the Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, School of Public Health and Information Sciences, University of Louisville. Florence Nyantakyi is with the Pediatric Society of Ghana, Kumasi, Ghana.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To examine elevated blood lead levels (EBLLs) in refugee children by postrelocation duration with control for several covariates. METHODS: We assessed EBLLs (≥ 5µg/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.
OBJECTIVES: To examine elevated blood lead levels (EBLLs) in refugee children by postrelocation duration with control for several covariates. METHODS: We assessed EBLLs (≥ 5µg/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.
Authors: Paul A Harris; Robert Taylor; Robert Thielke; Jonathon Payne; Nathaniel Gonzalez; Jose G Conde Journal: J Biomed Inform Date: 2008-09-30 Impact factor: 6.317
Authors: Katherine W Eisenberg; Edwin van Wijngaarden; Susan G Fisher; Katrina S Korfmacher; James R Campbell; I Diana Fernandez; Jennifer Cochran; Paul L Geltman Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2010-11-18 Impact factor: 9.308