Thailand |Overview
Neonatal Neurobehavioral Impacts of Iodine Insufficiency and Pesticide Exposures
by Susan Woskie, University of Massachusetts at Lowell
Mahidol University Faculty of Public Health (Pornpimol Kongtip Co-PI) and the University of Massachusetts Lowell Department of Work Environment (Susan Woskie, PI) joint Center for Work, Environment, Nutrition and Human Development (CWEND) is completing a 2 year pilot project on the Neonatal Neurobehavioral Impacts of Iodine Insufficiency and Pesticide Exposures funded by the NIH Fogerty International Center. As part of the pilot project Dr. Nittaya Kotchabhakdi of Ramathidbodi Hospital. a certified NBAS trainer in Thailand, trained the pediatricians at each of the three hospital study sites to conduct the NBAS assessment on newborns enrolled in the study. In addition, Dr Kotchabhakdi conducted a daylong seminar introducing the NBAS to over 55 attendees from hospitals and universities in the Bangkok area.
To date 82 newborns born to the 112 recruited pregnant women have been NBAS tested. This was accomplished despite formidable hurdles including the most significant flooding in Thailand in recent history. The flooding which went from September 2011 to January 2012 affected over 13 million people and 65 of the 77 provinces in Thailand were declared flood disaster zones, including one of the test sites.
Data analysis is currently underway to evaluate the impact of in-utero pesticide exposures and iodine supplementation use on neonatal neurodevelopment.
Photos from the NBAS training by Dr Kotchabhakdi