Garrison A. auteur aut IRD Khoshnood B. auteur aut IRD Courtin David auteur aut IRD Milet Jacqueline auteur aut IRD Garcia André auteur aut IRD Massougbodji A. auteur aut IRD Ayotte P. auteur aut IRD Cot Michel auteur aut IRD Bodeau-Livinec F. auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf reformatted digital access Lead and malaria both present significant health risks to children in Sub-Saharan Africa. Previous studies have shown that high blood lead levels in children act as a protective factor against subsequent malaria incidence. The main objective of this study was to investigate associations between blood lead level and malaria outcomes prospectively in Beninese children from 12 to 24 months of age. Two-hundred and four children were assessed for lead at 12 months and closely followed until 24 months for malaria; when symptoms and parasite density were also recorded. Univariate and multivariate negative binomial and linear regression models tested associations between blood lead level quartile and total episodes of malaria (total symptomatic and asymptomatic episodes) and parasite density, respectively. Median blood lead level among children measured at 12 months was 56.50 (4.81-578) mu g/L. During the 12-month follow-up, 172 (84.31%) children had at least one malaria episode. Univariate and multivariate negative binomial and linear regressions did not reveal significant associations between blood lead level quartile and malaria outcomes. Iron deficiency was not found to be an effect modifier. Results from this prospective child-cohort study investigating associations between blood lead level and malaria did not confirm results from previous cross-sectional studies. Further research is needed to further explore this relationship and other co-morbidities due to malaria and lead. specialized BENIN AFRIQUE SUBSAHARIENNE 052 050 14 7 art. e0220023 [14 ] 2019 1932-6203 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010076610 10.1371/journal.pone.0220023 1932-6203 [F B010076610] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010076610 https://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/divers19-09/010076610.pdf IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2019-10-14 2025-02-24 fdi:010076610 fre