title: Lead exposure and early child neurodevelopment among children 12-24 months in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo.
abstract: Childhood lead exposure remains a problem in developing countries, and little is known about its effects on early child neurodevelopment and temperament in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We, therefore, conducted this study to determine the association between lead exposure and the neurodevelopment and behaviour of children aged 12-24 months in Kinshasa, DRC. A cross-sectional study was conducted between February and June 2012, and parents of 104 children were invited to participate. Blood lead levels (BLLs) of each child were tested using the flame atomic spectrophotometry method. All children were subject to a clinical examination and assessed with two selected early child neurodevelopmental tools, the Gensini-Gavito and the baby characteristics questionnaire, to measure their neurodevelopment and temperament. Detectable BLLs ranged from 1 to 30 μg/dl with a geometric mean of 6.9 (SD 4.8) μg/dl. BLLs at 5-9 and ≥10 μg/dl were significantly associated with the child temperament (p <0.05). Perinatal and maternal factors did not seem to affect early child neurodevelopment and temperament. Children exposed to lead were reported with more temperament difficulties at even blood lead levels <10 μg/dl, suggesting the need for preventive and intervention measures to reduce lead exposure among children in Kinshasa, DRC.
authors.affiliation: Centre for International Health, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. esperance.abotnes@uib.no.
authors.forename: Espérance
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kashala-Abotnes
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Centre for Neuro-Psycho-Pathology, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Pépé Penghele
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Mumbere
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Centre for Neuro-Psycho-Pathology, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Jeannette Mukanya
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mishika
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Centre for Neuro-Psycho-Pathology, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Ally Omba
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Ndjukendi
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Centre for Neuro-Psycho-Pathology, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Davin Beya
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Mpaka
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Centre for Neuro-Psycho-Pathology, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Makila-Mabe Guy
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Bumoko
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Centre for Neuro-Psycho-Pathology, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Tharcisse Kalula
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Kayembe
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Centre for Neuro-Psycho-Pathology, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.|Centre for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
authors.forename: Désiré
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tshala-Katumbay
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Centre for Neuro-Psycho-Pathology, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Théodore Kayembe
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Kazadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Centre for Neuro-Psycho-Pathology, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Daniel Luwa E-Andjafono
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Okitundu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007854:Lead / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D065886:Neurodevelopmental Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013694:Temperament / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D007854:Lead
keywords: Childhood; Kinshasa/DRC; Lead exposure; Neurodevelopment; Temperament