ABSTRACT
Objective To establish a scientific, operational monitoring and early warning index system for schistosomiasis, so as to provide scientific evidence for promoting the scientification and standardization of early warning system in Poyang Lake Eco-economic Region. Methods Two rounds of Delphi experts’ interviews were applied to construct Index system. The weight value of each indicator was determined by the Analytic Hierarchy process and improvable proportionate allocation method. Reliability, validity of index system and the rationality of index weight distribution can be evaluated in site investigation. Results The Index system included 3 first-order indicators, 9 second-order indicators, and 35 third-order indicators. The 3 first-order indicators were endemic status, environmental and social factors, control measures, with the weight value of 0.531 0, 0.101 5 and 0.367 5, respectively. For the 9 second-order indicators, the highest weight value was for Infection status of human and livestock (0.179 5)and the lowest for social factors(0.050 6). During site investigation, the Cronbach’s alpha and spit half reliability of the total index system and three first-order indicators were all over 0.90, the Kendall W coefficient for the data collected in site investigation and Delphi consultation was 0.742 (P=0.018). Conclusions The Monitoring and Early Warning Index System for Schistosomiasis is suitable for the infection status of Poyang Lake Eco-economic region. The reliability and validity of index system are satisfactory, and the indicator weight distribution is rational.
ABSTRACT
In this study, we searched multiple databases for all relevant original articles (1996-2013). To investigate blood lead levels (BLL) and possible risk factors for lead exposure among children in China A total of 388 articles met our inclusion criteria. The overall geometric mean (GM) BLL was 71 µg/L, and the prevalence of elevated BLL (EBLL, defined as BLL ⋝ 100 µg/L) was 18.48% among children. The prevalence of EBLL remained significantly higher among boys. In children less than 6 years of age, there were significantly increasing trends in both BLL and prevalence of EBLL in an age-dependent manner. The ban on leaded gasoline significantly reduced the BLL as well as EBLL prevalence; however, children whose parents had lower educational levels or were exposed to lead in the workplace had a higher EBLL prevalence. Despite its decline over time, the average BLL among children in China remains higher than the average level most recently reported in the United States. Childhood lead poisoning remains a public health problem in China.