Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Activities within Michigan Local Public Health Departments

Abstract

Local public health departments have a wide array of responsibilities, including coordinating childhood lead poisoning prevention activities. This study was conducted in an effort to understand how local public health officers prioritized lead poisoning prevention activities and the barriers to the delivery of childhood lead poisoning prevention services delivered through local health departments. A telephone survey was conducted of health officers in Michigan, a state with a high burden of environmental lead. Analysis included Spearman rank correlation and Fisher's exact test. No association was found between the local risk of lead poisoning and the priority placed by local health departments on lead poisoning prevention activities. Similarly, there was no association between the local risk of lead poisoning and the availability of services. Only 60% of local health departments offered blood lead testing, environmental investigation, and case management. Most (74%) believed that lead poisoning is inadequately addressed within the area served by their local health department. New strategies of providing lead poisoning prevention activities are needed to achieve the federal and state goals of eliminating childhood lead poisoning over the next decade.