RESUMO
The health status of Jamaican workers was evaluated as a baseline for workplace health promotion interventions. Socio-demographic, health status, and lifestyle data were collected from 1,087 employees. Blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol levels, and body mass index were measured for study participants. The most common illness reported by the study participants was migraine headaches (16.0%), followed by hypertension (13.5%) and asthma (6.1%). Based on blood pressure measurements, 34.1% were pre-hypertensive (120-139/80-89 mmHg), 13.1% had Stage 1 hypertension (140-159/90-99 mmHg), and 2.3% Stage 2 hypertension (≥160/≥100 mmHg). Furthermore, 33% were overweight, 16.7% were obese, and 10% were extremely obese. Most (55.1%) of the study participants reported excessive fast-food consumption in the last 7 days. The high rates of obesity, hypertension, and fast-food consumption reported in this study emphasized the need for focused health promotion strategies. Universality across institutions presented an excellent opportunity for national workplace health intervention programs.
Assuntos
Estilo de Vida , Local de Trabalho/normas , Adulto , Peso Corporal , Colesterol/análise , Colesterol/sangue , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Glucose/análise , Humanos , Hipertensão/epidemiologia , Jamaica/epidemiologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Local de Trabalho/psicologiaRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To assess trends in the use of private and public health care services among Jamaicans over a 15-year period (1991-2007). DESIGN AND METHODS: Statistics on the use of health care services were taken from the Jamaica Survey of Living Conditions (JSLC) for the 15-year period 1993 to 2007. Use of hospital services were represented in income quintiles and compared for private and public facilities. The difference in percentage use between public and private was compared by quintiles over the period and the variability in those differentials assessed. RESULTS: This study highlights the increasing use of private services by increasing wealth, exaggerated for the wealthiest quintile. There is a widening of the differences in utilization between public and private centers as income level increases (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Internal and external economic conditions influence the use of private and public health care services in Jamaica. Although the relative increase in the cost (to the user) of public health care is more than that for private health care, the actual cost to use the public health care system is still significantly cheaper than using the private system. Lower income health care users tend to take the lesser cost option.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To assess the usefulness of the psychological autopsy in the Jamaican setting for investigating the characteristics of suicides in respect of psychiatric diagnoses and stressful life events. METHODS: The study was conducted in the parishes of Kingston, St.Andrew and St.Catherine, Jamaica. All suicide cases occuring between January 1 and December 31, 1998, were identified on the basis of police records. After obtaining informed consent the autopsy process initiated by interviewing key informants identified by relatives. Semi-structured interviews to assess mental state and stressful life events were conducted by a psychiatrist and supplemented by a review of case notes. A structured questionnaire was used to assess sociodemographic characteristics. An assessment of mental status prior to death was done and DSM IV criteria used to classify psychiatric disorders. Thiry-two suicides were studied using the psychological autopsy method. There was overwhelming willingness among key informants to be interviewed. RESULTS: The approach was fairly time consuming; interviews ranged from forty-five minutes to four hours (mean of 2 hours) having to be extended at times to allow for expression of emotions by informants. The method allowed for fairly easy retrospective formulation of psychiatric diagnosis (90 percent of victims) and for the elucidation of comorbidity. Substancial levels of stressful life events were also exposed. Many relatives expressed relief at being able to discuss these deaths with a neutral person. CONCLUSIONS: The psychological autopsy approach has provided valuable insights into the epidemiological and psychosocial context of suicide occurrence in these three Jamaican parishes. It has potential for ongoing surveillance and in the planning of prevention programmes. Its use among community mental health professionals should be evaluated. (AU)
Assuntos
Humanos , Suicídio , Autopsia , Jamaica , Entrevista Psicológica , Estudos de Coortes , Prevenção PrimáriaRESUMO
Examines progress in mental in the Caribbean with particular reference to Jamaica
Assuntos
Humanos , Saúde Mental , Região do CaribeRESUMO
Examines progress in mental in the Caribbean with particular reference to Jamaica