Eugenious O Adebamowo1, Oluwole A Agbede1, Mynepalli KC Sridhar2 and Clement A Adebamowo3
1Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
2Department of Epidemiology, Medical Statistics and Environmental Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
3Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
Background
Lead is a highly toxic and pervasive metal. Chronic exposure to low levels is responsible for significant health effects, particularly in children. Prevention remains the best option for reducing childhood lead exposure, however the knowledge, attitudes and practices to lead exposure in many developing countries is not known.
Methods: We conducted four focus group discussions (FGD) to evaluate knowledge attitudes and practices to lead exposure in Nigeria. An FGD guide was developed from the literature and preliminary discussion with members of the public. Participants in the FGD were randomly selected from adults living in Ibadan, South Western Nigeria in 2004.
Results
We found that there was limited awareness of the sources of lead exposure in the domestic environment and participants had little knowledge of the health effects of chronic low-dose lead exposure.
Conclusion
We conclude that the findings of this study should be used, in conjunction with others, to develop appropriate health education intervention for lead exposure in the domestic environment.
◊ An open access article from BMC Public Health 2006, 6:82, viewed from biologyonline.com.