Child and caretaker attributes associated with lead poisoning in young children

Lead poisoning is one of the major health hazards facing young children. A perplexing aspect is that elevated blood lead levels persist in many children even after education of caretakers in techniques to achieve lead reduction. This study examined attributes of mothers and children that might be associated with recovery after diagnosis. The results showed that mothers who had fewer "masculine" sex-role behaviors, who thought lead poisoning to be less serious, or who thought their children to be more difficult had children who made less improvement after diagnosis. Less improvement was also seen in the children of older mothers or mothers who had more children living with them. Children who were later-born, older, or male made less improvement after diagnosis than first-born, younger, or female children. Nurses should be alert to attributes that may foretell less redovery from lead poisoning and the need for more intensive intervention in these circumstances.