Policy Brief: Childhood Blood Lead Surveillance in Indonesia – Findings and Policy Recommendations

Unduh policy brief dalam Bahasa Indonesia.

In Indonesia, it is estimated that 8 million children have blood lead levels above the intervention threshold (≥5 µg/dL) recommended by the World Health Organization,  highlighting the urgent need for clinical and environmental actions to reduce lead exposure.

Vital Strategies, together with the Ministry of Health, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), and Pure Earth Indonesia, conducted the first Blood Lead Level Surveillance (Surveilans Kadar Timbal Darah/SKTD) activity under the Strengthening Health Systems to Reduce Lead Exposure program. The initiative assessed blood lead levels and associated risk factors of exposure in more than 1.500 children aged 12 to 59 months across 12 districts, including rural and urban locations.

Key findings from the surveillance include:

• Around 1 in 7 children (15%) have blood lead levels above 5 µg/dL.
• Higher household income and access to higher caregiver education are associated with lower blood lead levels, pointing out the importance of equity focused policies to address lead exposure.
• Higher blood lead levels are linked to modifiable factors such as the presence of peeling paint at home, parental lead-related occupations, which can contribute to take-home exposures from the workplace, use of metal cookware and use of cosmetic powder.
• Over 20% of tested consumer products, including paint, metal cookware, cosmetics, children’s toys and clothing contained lead above safety limits.

This work provides Indonesia with its first population-based evidence on childhood lead exposure and aligns national clinical guidelines with World Health Organization recommendations.