Patterns of Children's Blood Lead Screening and Blood Lead Levels in North Carolina, 2011-2018-Who Is Tested, Who Is Missed?

ABSTRACT:

Background

No safe level of lead in blood has been identified. Blood lead testing is required for children on Medicaid, but it is at the discretion of providers and parents for others. Elevated blood lead levels (EBLLs) cannot be identified in children who are not tested.

Objectives

The aims of this research were to identify determinants of lead testing and EBLLs among North Carolina children and estimate the number of additional children with EBLLs among those not tested.

Methods

We linked geocoded North Carolina birth certificates from 2011-2016 to 2010 U.S. Census data and North Carolina blood lead test results from 2011-2018. We estimated the probability of being screened for lead and created inverse probability (IP) of testing weights. We evaluated the risk of an

SUBMITTER: Kamai EM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9158533 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature