The impact of elevated blood lead levels in children on maternal health-related quality of life. (September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nakata, Hokuto; Tohyama, Harukazu; Fujita, Wakako; Nakayama, Shouta M.M.; Ishizuka, Mayumi; Yabe, John; Munyinda, Nosiku S.; Sakala, Doreen; Choongo, Kennedy; Yamasaki, Shojiro; Nagai, Natsumi; Yoshida, Takahiko; Saito, Takeshi
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 279(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-09
• Subjects: Lead poisoning -- Short-form 36 -- Health-related quality of life -- Mother -- Stepwise -- Multiple linear regression analysis; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130490
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Abstract: Kabwe is a mining town in Zambia that has been ranked among "the ten most polluted places in the world" with previous findings of serious lead (Pb) pollution. In this study, we aim to examine the impact of childhood Pb poisoning on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of mothers in Kabwe. The HRQoL was assessed using the Short-Form 36 survey for 404 mothers coming from residences in 40 randomly selected standard enumeration areas (SEAs). Blood lead levels (BLLs) of the household members including the mothers themselves were measured. We found a significant positive correlation between the BLLs of the mothers and their children (R = 0.6385, p < 0.0001), while the BLLs of preschool-aged and school-aged children were significantly higher than those of their mothers and fathers. Using the data sets containing the BLLs of the household members, the age of the mothers, the household income, and the household SEA, we performed stepwise multiple linear regression analyses. The results showed significant negative associations between the representative BLL of household children and the BLL of preschool-aged children with the vitality and mental health scores of their mothers. Additionally, the BLL of school-aged children was only significantly associated with the mental health score of their mothers. By contrast, there was a significant negative association between the BLLs of the mothers with the social role functioning score. This suggests that elevated BLLs in children have a negative impact on the mental health conditions of their mothers regardless of the mothers' BLL. Highlights: Impact assessment of childhood lead poisoning to maternal health-related QoL. Significant positive correlation between lead levels of mothers and children. Negative associaton of children's lead level with mothers' vitality and mental health scores. Negative association of mothers' lead level and social role functioning score. Contribution of socio-economic factors to mothers' QoL scores.