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Table 3 Association between sociodemographic variables, breast milk lead levels, and breast milk to blood lead ratios of the study participants (n = 80)

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

Variable

N

%

Breast milk lead concentration

Breast milk/venous blood lead ratio

<  5 μg/L

≥ 5 μg/L

χ2/Fisher’s exact test

p-value

<  25%

≥ 25%

χ2/Fisher’s exact test

p-value

n

%

n

%

n

%

n

%

Age (years)

  < 25

35

43.8

30

37.5

5

6.3

0.02

0.58

12

15.0

23

28.8

0.54

0.46

  ≥ 25

45

56.3

39

48.8

6

7.5

12

15.0

33

41.3

Number of children

  ≤ 2

43

53.8

36

45.0

7

8.8

0.5

0.53

14

17.5

29

36.3

0.29

0.59

  > 2

37

46.3

33

41.3

4

5.0

10

12.5

27

33.8

Breastfeeding duration (months)

  < 6

34

42.5

29

36.3

5

6.3

0.05

0.54

8

10.0

26

32.5

1.18

0.33

  ≥ 6

46

57.5

40

50.0

6

7.5

16

20.0

30

37.5

Residence

 Rural areas

52

65.0

49

61.3

3

3.8

7.62

0.01

20

25.0

32

40.0

5.07

0.02

 Urban areas

28

35.0

20

25.0

8

10.0

4

5.0

24

30.0

Chipping house paint

 No

54

67.5

48

60.0

6

7.5

0.93

0.26

18

22.5

36

45.0

0.88

0.35

 Yes

26

32.5

21

26.3

5

6.3

6

7.5

20

25.0

Distance from paints shop

 Close (<  200 m)

15

18.8

14

17.5

1

1.3

0.77

0.46

3

3.8

12

15.0

0.88

0.35

 Far (>  200 m)

65

81.3

55

68.8

10

12.5

21

26.3

44

55.0

Distance from industrial area

 Close (<  200 m)

22

27.5

18

22.5

4

5.0

0.48

0.72

6

7.5

16

20.0

0.11

0.74

 Far (>  200 m)

58

72.5

51

63.8

7

8.8

18

22.5

40

50.0

Distance from gas station

 Close (<  200 m)

12

15.0

11

13.8

1

1.3

0.35

0.69

4

5.0

8

10.0

0.07

0.79

 Far (>  200 m)

68

85.0

58

72.5

10

12.5

20

25.0

48

60.0

Monthly household income (US$)

  < 1000

64

80.0

56

70.0

8

10.0

0.42

0.69

21

26.3

43

53.8

1.21

0.27

  ≥ 1000

16

20.0

13

16.3

3

3.8

3

3.8

13

16.3

Educational level

 School

54

67.5

47

58.8

7

8.8

0.09

1.00

16

20.0

38

47.5

0.01

0.92

 University

26

32.5

22

27.5

4

5.0

8

10.0

18

22.5

Employment

 Unemployed

70

87.5

60

75.0

10

12.5

0.13

1.00

23

28.8

47

58.8

2.18

0.14

 Employed

10

12.5

9

11.3

1

1.3

1

1.3

9

11.3

Husband’s occupation

 White-collar job

23

28.8

18

22.5

5

6.3

1.72

0.28

4

5.0

19

23.8

2.44

0.12

 Blue-collar job

57

71.3

51

63.8

6

7.5

20

25.0

37

46.3

Worked in agriculture

 No

55

68.8

45

56.3

10

12.5

2.88

0.16

12

15.0

43

53.8

5.61

0.02

 Yes

25

31.3

24

30.0

1

1.3

12

15.0

13

16.3

Use of cosmetics

 No

34

42.5

29

36.3

5

6.3

0.05

1.00

9

11.3

25

31.3

0.35

0.55

 Yes

46

57.5

40

50.0

6

7.5

15

18.8

31

38.8

Use of kohla

 No

4

5.0

4

5.0

0

0.0

0.66

0.64

3

3.8

1

1.3

4.06

0.04

 Yes

76

95.0

65

81.3

11

13.8

21

26.3

55

68.8

Use of hair dye

 No

38

47.5

32

40.0

6

7.5

0.25

0.75

15

18.8

23

28.8

3.09

0.08

 Yes

42

52.5

37

46.3

5

6.3

9

11.3

33

41.3

Use of clay utensils

 No

76

95.0

65

81.3

11

0.0

0.66

0.64

21

26.3

55

68.8

4.06

0.04

 Yes

4

5.0

4

5.0

0

13.8

3

3.8

1

1.3

  1. aEye kohl is an eye cosmetic commonly worn by women in the Middle East, Africa, and the Indian Subcontinent