Lead poisoning prevention: A community-based participatory research program in Mississippi
Background and objectives: Lead poisoning is a preventable environmental health hazard. Although the prevalence of lead poisoning is declining, the rates are disproportionately high in selected communities. This community-based participatory research (CBPR) program aimed to enhance people’s awarenes...
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Ibrahim Medical College
2021-02-01
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doaj-b9fa5f1f6b954e4e8e6e398fe7f312902021-05-24T13:44:57ZengIbrahim Medical CollegeIMC Journal of Medical Science2519-17212519-15862021-02-01151110Lead poisoning prevention: A community-based participatory research program in MississippiAmal K. Mitra0Charkarra Anderson-Lewis 1School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39213, USASchool of Health Professions, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USABackground and objectives: Lead poisoning is a preventable environmental health hazard. Although the prevalence of lead poisoning is declining, the rates are disproportionately high in selected communities. This community-based participatory research (CBPR) program aimed to enhance people’s awareness on lead poisoning prevention through community outreach and educational interventions in Mississippi. Methods: Secondary data of 42,372 children obtained from the Mississippi State Department of Health were analyzed to identify the most affected communities in Mississippi. Community-based outreach and education activities were carried out in the most affected areas to increase population awareness on lead poisonig prevention. Results: Hands-on training was offered to 25 participants at homebuilding retail stores. Of them, 23 (92%) reported the hands-on training was very useful or useful. Among 91 home-buyers and rental home owners who attended workshops offered by the Neighborhood Association, 90% mentioned that the training was useful or very useful. An online visual training was given to 220 realtors, and 75 inspectors, contractors, and Do-It-Yourself (DIY) workers. At posttest, 59.4%, 67.9%, 65.1% of the realtors, inspectors, contractors and DIY workers (n = 295) identified soil, car batteries and paint as sources of lead in the environment, respectively. A total of 62.3%, 48.1% and 58.5%, at posttest, identified three complications - behavioral, physical and psychological, respectively. The mean posttest score was significantly higher than the pretest scores (7.47 ± 2.07 vs. 6.60 ± 1.68, p = 0.04, respectively). Conclusion: These outreach activities were successful in improving the knowledge of the community people on lead poisoning prevention. IMC J Med Sci 2021; 15(1): 002 *Correspondence: Amal K. Mitra, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Jackson, Mississippi, USA. Email: amal.k.mitra@jsums.edu.https://www.imcjms.com/registration/journal_full_text/367 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Amal K. Mitra Charkarra Anderson-Lewis |
spellingShingle |
Amal K. Mitra Charkarra Anderson-Lewis Lead poisoning prevention: A community-based participatory research program in Mississippi IMC Journal of Medical Science |
author_facet |
Amal K. Mitra Charkarra Anderson-Lewis |
author_sort |
Amal K. Mitra |
title |
Lead poisoning prevention: A community-based participatory research program in Mississippi |
title_short |
Lead poisoning prevention: A community-based participatory research program in Mississippi |
title_full |
Lead poisoning prevention: A community-based participatory research program in Mississippi |
title_fullStr |
Lead poisoning prevention: A community-based participatory research program in Mississippi |
title_full_unstemmed |
Lead poisoning prevention: A community-based participatory research program in Mississippi |
title_sort |
lead poisoning prevention: a community-based participatory research program in mississippi |
publisher |
Ibrahim Medical College |
series |
IMC Journal of Medical Science |
issn |
2519-1721 2519-1586 |
publishDate |
2021-02-01 |
description |
Background and objectives: Lead poisoning is a preventable environmental health hazard. Although the prevalence of lead poisoning is declining, the rates are disproportionately high in selected communities. This community-based participatory research (CBPR) program aimed to enhance people’s awareness on lead poisoning prevention through community outreach and educational interventions in Mississippi.
Methods: Secondary data of 42,372 children obtained from the Mississippi State Department of Health were analyzed to identify the most affected communities in Mississippi. Community-based outreach and education activities were carried out in the most affected areas to increase population awareness on lead poisonig prevention.
Results: Hands-on training was offered to 25 participants at homebuilding retail stores. Of them, 23 (92%) reported the hands-on training was very useful or useful. Among 91 home-buyers and rental home owners who attended workshops offered by the Neighborhood Association, 90% mentioned that the training was useful or very useful. An online visual training was given to 220 realtors, and 75 inspectors, contractors, and Do-It-Yourself (DIY) workers. At posttest, 59.4%, 67.9%, 65.1% of the realtors, inspectors, contractors and DIY workers (n = 295) identified soil, car batteries and paint as sources of lead in the environment, respectively. A total of 62.3%, 48.1% and 58.5%, at posttest, identified three complications - behavioral, physical and psychological, respectively. The mean posttest score was significantly higher than the pretest scores (7.47 ± 2.07 vs. 6.60 ± 1.68, p = 0.04, respectively).
Conclusion: These outreach activities were successful in improving the knowledge of the community people on lead poisoning prevention.
IMC J Med Sci 2021; 15(1): 002
*Correspondence: Amal K. Mitra, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Jackson, Mississippi, USA. Email: amal.k.mitra@jsums.edu. |
url |
https://www.imcjms.com/registration/journal_full_text/367 |
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