A Study to Assess the Awareness Regarding Lead Poisoning among Students of Selected Secondary Schools at Unguja, Zanzibar

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to assess awareness of the element Lead and knowledge of lead poisoning across a diverse sample of young respondents (N=273) differing in age, sex, region, and educational level. Given the pervasive risk of lead exposure, understanding community knowledge gaps is critical for planning public health interventions. Method: The study employed a cross-sectional design, surveying 273 participants categorized by age (12-14, 15-17, 18-20, and >21 years), sex (male/female), region (urban/rural), and educational level (Form 1-2, Form 3-4, and Form 5-6). Data analysis focused on descriptive statistics and tests for association between demographic variables and awareness/knowledge. Results: Overall findings indicated critically low levels of health literacy regarding lead. Only 35.2% of respondents were aware of the element lead. Furthermore, awareness of the health risk, lead poisoning, was alarmingly low at 13.9%, with 86.1% unaware. The proportion demonstrating actual knowledge of lead poisoning was negligible, standing at just 5.9%. The analysis found no statistically significant association between awareness or knowledge of lead poisoning and any of the tested sociodemographic characteristics (age, sex, region, and educational level) (p>0.05). Despite the lack of statistical significance, slight trends were identified: the age 21-year-old group showed the highest awareness (20.0%) and knowledge (14.0%); females reported marginally higher awareness (15.6%) and knowledge (7.10%) than males; and the Forms 5–6 educational level group exhibited the highest awareness (18.2%) and knowledge (9.10%). Conclusion: The overall prevalence of awareness and knowledge regarding lead poisoning is extremely low across all demographic strata, indicating a significant public health gap. While slight differences in awareness and knowledge were observed, particularly favouring older age groups, females, and higher educational attainment, these differences were not statistically significant. These findings strongly suggest an urgent need for targeted, mandatory public health education campaigns, especially at the lower educational levels and among younger age cohorts, to increase community resilience against lead exposure risks.