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Learn how the Harris County Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program bridged the knowledge gap among pediatric healthcare providers, leading to a remarkable increase in blood lead testing rates for children.
Enhancing Lead Poisoning Prevention Awareness Among Pediatric Healthcare Professionals in Harris County, Texas
Previous outreach efforts revealed a concerning gap: many providers in Harris County, Texas, lacked the necessary tools to effectively guide parents of children with higher blood lead levels (3.5 µg/dL or higher). Specifically, they lacked guidance on how to reduce lead poisoning through the removal of lead sources and a healthy diet, both of which are essential for lowering elevated blood lead levels. To address this gap, the Harris County Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, launched in 2017, connects healthcare professionals in high-risk areas with crucial information about lead poisoning.
This initiative involved providing clinics with information packages containing state lead forms Land educational materials for parents of children younger than age six on lead poisoning, its risks, and preventive measures. These materials include a key resource, the "Physician Checklist for Parent Education Topics," which assists healthcare providers in educating families on reducing lead exposure through environmental safety practices and proper nutrition.
During the past three years, the program trained 92 pediatric healthcare professionals. This impressive number of trained professionals within such a short timeframe demonstrates not only the program's effectiveness but also its potential for expansion and lasting impact on the healthcare community in Harris County. The rate of testing in Harris County increased from .9% in 2020 to 14.3% in 2021 and 16.6% in 2022.