International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), 68, Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh.
Health Section Programme, UNICEF, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
BMC Public Health. 2024 Aug 5;24(1):2108. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-19533-3.
Lead, a potent neurotoxin, causes irreversible damage to the nervous system, and low- and middle-income countries face huge health and economic productivity losses due to childhood lead exposure. In Bangladesh, informal Used Lead Acid Battery (ULAB) recycling sites are an important source of lead pollution. Little is known about lead awareness among communities exposed to ULAB recycling. Therefore, this study aims to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to lead pollution among caregivers of young children and adolescents living adjacent to informal ULAB sites.
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 732 mothers of young children and adolescents in 4 districts of Bangladesh (survey and observation). Simple and multiple linear regression was conducted to describe patterns and predictors of lead-related knowledge and practices.
60% of respondents had heard the name 'lead' ("shisha"). The mean knowledge score was low (19 out of 44). Residents of high-risk districts, male respondents, and those with more than 5 years of schooling were significantly more likely to have higher knowledge scores than others. In terms of attitude, 52% of respondents perceived lead to be risky for human health but 43% thought lead pollution was controllable. Observation of households for lead exposure revealed that 63% of children and adolescents play or pass by ULAB sites, 29% ate non-food items, 41% of households had visible paint chips on the walls, 59% households used polished turmeric and 15% used lead-soldered cans to store foods. Among protective practices, 70% reported cleaning floors, 84% consumed iron-rich foods, and 48% consumed calcium-rich foods.
The population had a high potential for lead exposure. Their knowledge about lead was limited, and risk perception was moderate. To reduce lead exposure and increase knowledge and awareness among the at-risk population, it is crucial to take measures such as mass awareness campaigns through media and schools. It is important to strengthen the implementation of existing policies, such as policies on leaded gasoline, paints, and lead-acid batteries, that can address the sources of lead exposure for the community.
铅是一种强有力的神经毒素，会对神经系统造成不可逆转的损害，中低收入国家由于儿童铅暴露而面临巨大的健康和经济生产力损失。在孟加拉国，非正规的废铅酸电池（ULAB）回收站点是铅污染的一个重要来源。在接触 ULAB 回收的社区中，人们对铅的认识知之甚少。因此，本研究旨在评估居住在非正式 ULAB 场地附近的幼儿和青少年的看护者与铅污染相关的知识、态度和做法。
在孟加拉国的 4 个地区，对 732 名幼儿和青少年的母亲进行了横断面研究（调查和观察）。采用简单和多元线性回归来描述与铅相关的知识和做法的模式和预测因素。
60%的受访者听说过“铅”（“shisha”）这个名字。平均知识得分较低（44 分中的 19 分）。来自高风险地区、男性受访者和受教育年限超过 5 年的受访者比其他人更有可能获得更高的知识得分。在态度方面，52%的受访者认为铅对人类健康有风险，但 43%的人认为铅污染是可控的。对家庭进行铅暴露观察发现，63%的儿童和青少年在 ULAB 场地玩耍或路过，29%的人食用非食物物品，41%的家庭墙壁上有可见的油漆屑，59%的家庭使用抛光姜黄，15%的家庭使用含铅焊料的罐头来储存食物。在保护措施方面，70%的人报告经常清洁地板，84%的人食用富含铁的食物，48%的人食用富含钙的食物。
该人群有很高的铅暴露风险。他们对铅的了解有限，风险认知处于中等水平。为了减少铅暴露并提高高危人群的知识和意识，必须采取措施，如通过媒体和学校开展大规模的宣传活动。重要的是要加强执行现有的政策，如含铅汽油、油漆和铅酸电池的政策，这些政策可以解决社区的铅暴露来源。
