TY - JOUR
T1 - Lead exposure and early child neurodevelopment among children 12–24 months in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo
AU - Kashala-Abotnes, Espérance
AU - Mumbere, Pépé Penghele
AU - Mishika, Jeannette Mukanya
AU - Ndjukendi, Ally Omba
AU - Mpaka, Davin Beya
AU - Bumoko, Makila Mabe Guy
AU - Kayembe, Tharcisse Kalula
AU - Tshala-Katumbay, Désiré
AU - Kazadi, Théodore Kayembe
AU - Okitundu, Daniel Luwa E.Andjafono
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016, The Author(s).
PY - 2016/12/1
Y1 - 2016/12/1
N2 - Childhood lead exposure remains a problem in developing countries, and little is known about its effects on early child neurodevelopment and temperament in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We, therefore, conducted this study to determine the association between lead exposure and the neurodevelopment and behaviour of children aged 12–24 months in Kinshasa, DRC. A cross-sectional study was conducted between February and June 2012, and parents of 104 children were invited to participate. Blood lead levels (BLLs) of each child were tested using the flame atomic spectrophotometry method. All children were subject to a clinical examination and assessed with two selected early child neurodevelopmental tools, the Gensini–Gavito and the baby characteristics questionnaire, to measure their neurodevelopment and temperament. Detectable BLLs ranged from 1 to 30 μg/dl with a geometric mean of 6.9 (SD 4.8) μg/dl. BLLs at 5–9 and ≥10 μg/dl were significantly associated with the child temperament (p <0.05). Perinatal and maternal factors did not seem to affect early child neurodevelopment and temperament. Children exposed to lead were reported with more temperament difficulties at even blood lead levels <10 μg/dl, suggesting the need for preventive and intervention measures to reduce lead exposure among children in Kinshasa, DRC.
AB - Childhood lead exposure remains a problem in developing countries, and little is known about its effects on early child neurodevelopment and temperament in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We, therefore, conducted this study to determine the association between lead exposure and the neurodevelopment and behaviour of children aged 12–24 months in Kinshasa, DRC. A cross-sectional study was conducted between February and June 2012, and parents of 104 children were invited to participate. Blood lead levels (BLLs) of each child were tested using the flame atomic spectrophotometry method. All children were subject to a clinical examination and assessed with two selected early child neurodevelopmental tools, the Gensini–Gavito and the baby characteristics questionnaire, to measure their neurodevelopment and temperament. Detectable BLLs ranged from 1 to 30 μg/dl with a geometric mean of 6.9 (SD 4.8) μg/dl. BLLs at 5–9 and ≥10 μg/dl were significantly associated with the child temperament (p <0.05). Perinatal and maternal factors did not seem to affect early child neurodevelopment and temperament. Children exposed to lead were reported with more temperament difficulties at even blood lead levels <10 μg/dl, suggesting the need for preventive and intervention measures to reduce lead exposure among children in Kinshasa, DRC.
KW - Childhood
KW - Kinshasa/DRC
KW - Lead exposure
KW - Neurodevelopment
KW - Temperament
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U2 - 10.1007/s00787-016-0860-3
DO - 10.1007/s00787-016-0860-3
M3 - Article
C2 - 27165339
AN - SCOPUS:84966470742
SN - 1018-8827
VL - 25
SP - 1361
EP - 1367
JO - European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
JF - European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
IS - 12
ER -