Childhood lead poisoning and inadequate child care
T. J. Hunt, R. Hepner and K. W. Seaton
Sixteen caretakers of children hospitalized for their first episode of lead
poisoning and 16 caretakers of children with normal lead levels were
interviewed in their homes to determine if caretakers of children with lead
poisoning provided more inadequate child care than the comparison group of
caretakers. Children were matched according to age, race, and sex.
Correlations were found between children's lead levels and caretakers'
scores on the measures of inadequate child care. Differences were evident
in the overall physical and cognitive emotional care provided to these
children. No differences were found in the caretakers' ages, number of
years of education and family monthly income, number of occupants in the
household, and family mobility. Implications of the intertwined roles of
inadequate child care, subclinical lead poisoning, and later developmental
sequelae are discussed.
