Lead Poisoning Prevention Efforts in High-Risk Environments: Follow-up Testing Rates among Preschool Children in Flint, Michigan, 2013-2015.
OBJECTIVES
Despite the importance of screening in efforts to address lead poisoning, many children in the United States have never been tested for lead, even when required to receive blood lead testing by state and federal healthcare policy. Fewer children gain access to follow-up or confirmatory testing when elevated blood lead levels are detected.


METHODS
In response to previous research that illustrates the extent to which follow-up treatment services have been underutilized and poorly coordinated, this retrospective cohort study examines follow-up testing trends for lead poisoning among Medicaid-enrolled children 6 years and younger in Flint, Michigan, between 2013 and 2015.


RESULTS
These findings illustrate that compliance with follow-up testing procedures was less than adequate during the period of study.


CONCLUSION
As illustrated in this bivariate analysis, subpopulations in Flint most likely to have lead poisoning were least likely to receive follow-up testing. Evidence also demonstrates that the likelihood that children with lead poisoning received follow-up testing was overwhelmingly associated with their blood lead concentration level than other indicators including socioeconomic status in this high-risk environment.
['Davis|Katrinell M|KM|0000-0002-7977-9541']
D002675:Child, Preschool D005260:Female D005500:Follow-Up Studies D054625:Healthcare Disparities D006801:Humans D007854:Lead D007855:Lead Poisoning D008297:Male D008403:Mass Screening D008484:Medicaid D008824:Michigan D012189:Retrospective Studies D018570:Risk Assessment D012923:Social Class D014481:United States
Lead poisoning High-risk Follow-up testing Flint, Michigan Medicaid-enrolled Flint water crisis