Breast milk to blood lead ratios among women from the West Bank of Palestine: a cross-sectional study of associated factors

Table 1 Sociodemographic variables of the women who provided blood and breast milk samples (n = 80)

Variable	n	%
Age (years)
< 25	35	43.8
≥ 25	45	56.3
Number of children
≤ 2	43	53.8
> 2	37	46.3
Breastfeeding duration (months)
< 6	34	42.5
≥ 6	46	57.5
Place of residence
Rural areas	52	65.0
Urban areas	28	35.0
Chipping house paint
No	54	67.5
Yes	26	32.5
Distance from paints shop
Close (< 200 m)	15	18.8
Far (> 200 m)	65	81.3
Distance from industrial area
Close (< 200 m)	22	27.5
Far (> 200 m)	58	72.5
Distance from gas station
Close (< 200 m)	12	15.0
Far (> 200 m)	68	85.0
Monthly household income (US$)
< 1000	64	80.0
≥ 1000	16	20.0
Educational level
School	54	67.5
University	26	32.5
Employment
Unemployed	70	87.5
Employed	10	12.5
Husband’s occupation
White-collar job^a	23	28.8
Blue-collar job^b	57	71.3
Worked in agriculture
No	25	31.3
Yes	55	68.8
Use of cosmetics
No	46	57.5
Yes	34	42.5
Use of kohl^c
No	4	5.0
Yes	76	95.0
Use of hair dye
No	38	47.5
Yes	42	52.5
Use of clay utensils
No	76	95.0
Yes	4	5.0

^aWhite-collar job was any job that does not involve physical labor, ^bBlue-collar job was any job that involved manual/physical labor, ^cEye kohl is an eye cosmetic commonly worn by women in the Middle East, Africa, and the Indian Subcontinent

ISSN: 1746-4358