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Maternal perceptions of lead poisoning in children with normal and elevated lead levels
R L Anderson1, J K Whitwell, S A Snyder
1Department of Pediatrics, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio 44109-1998, USA.
Introduction:
The purpose of this study was to examine mothers' perceptions of the severity and susceptibility of their children to lead poisoning and to determine if a correlation existed between mothers' knowledge of lead poisoning and their children's blood lead levels. It was thought that mothers of children with lead poisoning (lead levels > or = 10 micrograms/dL) would score lower on a test of their perceptions and knowledge of lead poisoning than would mothers of children with normal lead levels (lead levels < or = 9 micrograms/dL).
Method:
A cross-sectional study comparing scores of a questionnaire completed by mothers whose children had elevated blood lead levels and mothers whose children had normal blood lead levels was conducted.
Results:
No difference was found in the median test score between the 2 groups. For the correct responses on a question-by-question comparison, significant difference existed between groups; however, the percentage of correct responses was not always greater for the mothers of children with normal blood lead levels.
Discussion:
Mothers' perceptions and knowledge of lead poisoning were not associated with their children's blood lead levels.