4 research outputs found
Magnitude, Distribution, and Estimated Level of Underreporting of Acute Gastroenteritis in Jamaica
Jamaica is the third largest island in the Caribbean. The epidemiology
of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is important to Jamaica, particularly in
the areas of health, tourism, and because of the potential impact on
the local workforce and the economy. Data collected by the National
Surveillance Unit on the prevalence of AGE transmitted by food are not
accurate. To determine the true magnitude, risk factors, and the extent
of underreporting of AGE in Jamaica, we conducted a cross-sectional,
population-based retrospective survey during the periods of 21
February\u20137 March and 14-27 June 2009, corresponding to high- and
low-AGE season respectively. Of the total 1,920 persons selected
randomly by a multistage cluster-sampling process, 1,264 responded
(response rate 65.8%). Trained interviewers administered a
standardized, validated questionnaire during face-to-face interviews.
The overall prevalence of self-reported AGE was 4.0% (95% CI 2.9-5.1)
at a rate of 0.5 episodes/per person-year. The highest monthly
prevalence of AGE (14.6%) was found among the 1-4 year(s) age-group and
the lowest (2.1%) among the 25-44 years age-group. Of the 18 cases
(36%) who sought medical care, 11% were hospitalized, 33% were treated
with antibiotics, and 66.7% received oral rehydration fluids. Only 2
cases who sought medical care reportedly submitted stool specimens. The
mean duration of diarrhoea was 3.1 days, which resulted in a mean loss
of 4 productive days, with over half of the cases requiring someone to
care for them. The burden of syndromic AGE for 2009 was extrapolated to
be 122,711 cases, showing an underreporting factor of 58.9. For every
laboratory-confirmed AGE case, it was estimated that 383 more cases
were occurring in the population. This research confirms that the
prevalence of AGE is underreported in Jamaica and not being adequately
detected by the current surveillance system. The components of the
integrated surveillance system for AGE in Jamaica, particularly the
laboratory aspect, need to be strengthened
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Exploring the relationships between dengue fever knowledge and Aedes aegypti breeding in St Catherine Parish, Jamaica: a pilot of enhanced low-cost surveillance
Dengue fever has re-emerged as an increasingly significant global health threat amid diminishing resources pledged for its control in developing nations. Efforts to limit breeding of the dengue vector
are often hampered by lack of community awareness of the disease.
Sixty-eight households in St Catherine Parish, Jamaica completed a pilot knowledge, attitude, and practice questionnaire as part of a routine container survey for presence of
larvae.
Infestation levels were high according to traditional
indices (Breteau index = 325); however, general knowledge of dengue symptoms,
breeding sites, and preventive practices was low. After examining the links between demographic characteristics, dengue knowledge, and the number of breeding sites per house, higher educational achievement was associated with higher dengue knowledge, but also with more unprotected containers. Overall dengue knowledge was not associated with household container counts. Spatial statistics identified weak clustering of larvae-positive containers, and larvae were concentrated in three key container types.
Residents may only understand the role of certain container types, and significant gaps in general knowledge of the disease may inhibit vector control. This pilot demonstrates the feasibility of conducting inexpensive, rapid assessment of community knowledge and breeding levels for local governments lacking the resources for a more methodologically robust vector assessment strategy
South-to-North, Cross-Disciplinary Training in Global Health Practice: Ten Years of Lessons Learned from an Infectious Disease Field Course in Jamaica
Global commerce, travel, and emerging and resurging infectious diseases have increased awareness of global health threats and opportunities for collaborative and service learning. We review course materials, knowledge archives, data management archives, and student evaluations for the first 10 years of an intensive summer field course in infectious disease epidemiology and surveillance offered in Jamaica. We have trained 300 students from 28 countries through collaboration between the University of the West Indies and U.S. partner universities. Participants were primarily graduate students in public health, but also included health professionals with terminal degrees, and public health nurses and inspectors. Strong institutional synergies, committed faculty, an emphasis on scientific and cultural competencies, and use of team-based field research projects culminate in a unique training environment that provides participants with career-developing experiences. We share lessons learned over the past decade, and conclude that South-to-North leadership is critical in shaping transdisciplinary, cross-cultural, global health practice
South-to-North, Cross-Disciplinary Training in Global Health Practice: Ten Years of Lessons Learned from an Infectious Disease Field Course in Jamaica
Global commerce, travel, and emerging and resurging infectious diseases have increased awareness of global health threats and opportunities for collaborative and service learning. We review course materials, knowledge archives, data management archives, and student evaluations for the first 10 years of an intensive summer field course in infectious disease epidemiology and surveillance offered in Jamaica. We have trained 300 students from 28 countries through collaboration between the University of the West Indies and U.S. partner universities. Participants were primarily graduate students in public health, but also included health professionals with terminal degrees, and public health nurses and inspectors. Strong institutional synergies, committed faculty, an emphasis on scientific and cultural competencies, and use of team-based field research projects culminate in a unique training environment that provides participants with career-developing experiences. We share lessons learned over the past decade, and conclude that South-to-North leadership is critical in shaping transdisciplinary, cross-cultural, global health practice