42: Improving Care to Address Maternal and Child Lead Exposure

Public Health Review

In 2017, nearly 64,000 children under six had elevated blood levels as defined by the CDC. There is no safe blood lead level in children, and even low levels of lead have been shown to affect IQ, ability to pay attention, and academic achievement. To decrease maternal and child morbidity and mortality associated with lead exposure, families need access to systems of coordinated care in order to address their needs related to lead exposure.

This episode will discuss how Louisiana and Iowa have used quality improvement strategies and innovative partnerships to improve systems of care related to maternal and child lead exposure. Our guests also discuss the racial disparities that exist in populations with high lead exposure, and how addressing this is critical to achieving overall health equity.

Guests:

• Alexander Billioux, MD, DPhil, Assistant Secretary of Health, Louisiana Department of Health
• Trina Evans-Williams, ScD, MPH, State Program Coordinator, Louisiana Healthy Homes and Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, Louisiana Department of Health
• Analisa Pearson, MSN, RN, Child and Adolescent Health Team Lead, Bureau of Family Health, Iowa Department of Public Health

Related Resources:

• Maternal and Child Environmental Health Collaborative Improvement and Innovation Network (AMCHP)
• Louisiana Healthy Homes and Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program website
• Iowa Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program website
• National Childhood Blood Lead Surveillance Data (CDC)
• Lead Exposure and Early Brain Development (ASTHO)
• Rhode Island Coordinates Statewide Efforts to Address Lead Exposure in Maternal and Child Health Populations (ASTHO)
• Arizona Department of Health Services Creates Coalition for Lead Poisoning Prevention
• National Center for Healthy Housing, Health in All Policies and Lead Resources