Sexual Activity and Depressive Symptoms in Later Life: Insights from Jamaica.

: To explore relationships between sexual activity and depressive symptoms in urology and gynecology out-patients aged 50 years and older.: Depressive symptoms were assessed using Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale. Sexual activity was measured by interviewer-administered questionnaires assessing relationships, intimacy and sexual function (N = 557).

Zarit burden interview among caregivers of community-dwelling older adults in a caribbean setting (Jamaica): Reliability and factor structure.

The Zarit Burden Interview has been the most popularly used tool for measuring caregiver burden and with the 60 years and over population in Jamaica and developing countries expected to increase, caregiver burden and its assessment assume increased importance. Establishing the reliability and underlying factor structure of instruments such as the ZBI is critical. This study sought to determine the reliability of the Zarit Burden Interview and to assess its underlying factor structure.

Proportion of Dementia Explained by Five Key Factors in Jamaica.

Background: Dementia has no known cure and age is its strongest predictor. Given that populations in the Caribbean are aging, a focus on policies and programs that reduce the risk of dementia and its risk factors is required.

Objective: To estimate the proportion of dementia in the Jamaican setting attributable to key factors.

Socio-demographic, Health and Functional Status Correlates of Caregiver Burden Among Care Recipients Age 60 Years and Older in Jamaica.

The provision of care to older persons can impose significant burden on those providing care, burdens influenced by care recipient characteristic, caregiver attributes and availability of social support. This paper focuses on identifying relationships between caregiver burden and the socio-demographic, health and functional status attributes of care recipients age 60 years and older in Jamaica. A nationally representative cross-sectional study was done among persons providing non-institutional care for a single person 60 years and older.

Breast Cancer in Jamaica: Trends From 2010 to 2014-Is Mortality Increasing?

Purpose: This study sought to provide a detailed analysis of breast cancer-specific mortality in Jamaica on the basis of reported deaths between 2010 and 2014.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was done to analyze breast cancer-specific mortality data from the Registrar General's Department, the statutory body responsible for registering all deaths across Jamaica.

Results: A total of 1,634 breast cancer-related deaths were documented among Jamaican women between 2010 and 2014, which accounted for 24% of all female cancer deaths.

Caregivers of Older Persons in Jamaica: Characteristics, Burden, and Associated Factors.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine and characterize caregiver burden among caregivers of community-dwelling older persons in Jamaica.

Method: A nationally representative cross-sectional study was done among persons providing noninstitutional care for a single person (≥60 years). The Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) and a structured questionnaire were administered to 180 caregivers from four geographic health regions.

Performance and Receiver Operating Characteristics of the Mini-Mental State Examination Instrument in Detecting Dementia in a Rapidly Aging Developing Country (Jamaica).

Objective: To examine the performance of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) in community-dwelling older persons in a developing country (Jamaica) undergoing rapid population aging.

Methods: An embedded validity study was conducted utilizing participants from a nationally representative sample of 2782 older persons. Standardized MMSE scores were obtained for study participants.

Patterns of depressive symptoms among younger elderly (60-74 years old) and older elderly (≥75 years old) in Jamaica.

Objectives: We sought to explore factors associated with depressive symptom severity among older persons (≥60 years of age) and to compare the depressive symptoms commonly experienced by older elderly (≥75 years) with those commonly experienced by younger elderly (<75 years).

Design: Secondary analysis was conducted on data from a nationally representative survey.

Setting: Four parishes in Jamaica.

Predictors of Health Service Utilization Among Older Men in Jamaica.

Objectives: To determine the relative influence of sociodemographic, socioeconomic, psychosocial, and health variables on health service utilization in the last 12 months.

Methods: Data were analyzed for 1,412 men ≥60 years old from a 2012 nationally representative community-based survey in Jamaica. Associations between six health service utilization variables and several explanatory variables were explored.

Alcohol use, depression, and life satisfaction among older persons in Jamaica.

Background: We aimed to determine the prevalence of alcohol use among older Jamaicans as well as to explore among this population the relationships between alcohol use and: age, sex, depressive symptoms, and life satisfaction. Although the nature of these relationships among the proposed study population were uncertain, in other settings alcohol use has tended to decline with increasing age, occur more commonly among men than women, and show non-linear relationships with depressive symptoms and life satisfaction.

Methods: Data gathered by two-stage cluster sampling for a nationally representative health and lifestyle survey of 2,943 community-dwelling older Jamaicans, aged 60 to 103 years, were subjected to secondary analysis using the Student's t-test and χ 2 test as appropriate.

The Health of Office-Based Workers in Kingston, Jamaica.

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.

Participation in Social Activities and the Association with Socio-Demographic and Health-Related Factors among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Jamaica.

Social participation is critical for maintaining independence and facilitating active ageing. The aim of this paper is to describe participation in social activities among older adults in Jamaica and to identify independently associated socio-demographic and health characteristics. We analysed data from a nationally representative, community-based survey of 2943 persons 60 years and older.

Profile of a Malignant Brain Tumour in Jamaica: An Eight-year Review, 2005 to 2012.

Objective: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most malignant and most common primary brain tumour worldwide. This study was undertaken to investigate the demographics of this tumour in Jamaica as there is to date no such published data. Data from the recently started Intracranial Tumour Registry (ITR) at the University Hospital of the West Indies was used.

Cardio-Vascular Disease and Cancer: A Dichotomy in Utilization of Clinical Preventive Services by Older Adults in a Developing Country.

To report the level of utilization of clinical preventive services by older adults in Jamaica and to identify independent factors associated with utilization. A nationally representative, community-based survey of 2,943 older adults was undertaken. Utilization frequency for six preventive, cardiovascular or cancer-related services was calculated.

Non-communicable diseases in an older, aging population: a developing country perspective (Jamaica).

Unlabelled: Changes in the non-communicable disease (NCD) profile of older adults living in a rapidly-aging, developing country are described.

Methods: Data from a 2012 nationally representative survey of 2,943 older adults were used to determine the burden of NCDs important to elder health. Additionally, the percentage change in NCD prevalence over a 23-year period (1989-2012) was determined.

Hypertension and Diabetes Prevalence in Older Persons in Jamaica, 2012.

The Jamaican population is experiencing both a demographic and epidemiological transition. This 2012 study of 2943 community dwelling persons over sixty years of age sought to determine the prevalence of hypertension and diabetes and how it has increased since the earlier 1989 study. Hypertension was the most prevalent non-communicable disease with 61.

Building family medicine postgraduate training in Jamaica: overcoming challenges in a resource-limited setting.

This paper recounts the development of family medicine postgraduate training in Jamaica, the challenges faced and lessons learned. A self-administered questionnaire was completed by past trainees exploring the perceived usefulness, strengths and weaknesses of the programme. The results of this study helped guide the strengthening of family medicine training in a resource-limited setting.

A clinical audit of the management of acute asthmatic attacks in adults and children presenting to an emergency department.

Objective: To compare the guidelines in the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) acute asthma management protocol with actual practice in the Accident and Emergency Department.

Methods: A prospective docket audit was done of all consecutive medical records of patients, presenting with a diagnosed acute asthmatic attack between June 1 and September 30, 2010, to the emergency department of the UHWI. A convenient sample was used.

The compliance of healthcare workers with universal precautions in the emergency room at the university hospital of the west indies.

Objectives: The study assessed compliance among health workers in the Emergency Room at the University Hospital of the West Indies with universal precautions. This was done by determining the knowledge, practices and perceptions of staff of universal precautions and by assessing compliance. Reported adherence with universal precautions was compared with observed practice.

Ageing of Jamaica's Population -- What Are the Implications for Healthcare?

The 2011 Census has confirmed the ageing of the Jamaican population. The over-60-year-old population has increased while the under 15-year population has decreased. Other demographic changes of note include the largest increase being in the old-old who are predominantly female.

Sociodemographic factors associated with depressive symptoms among elderly persons from two communities in Kingston, Jamaica.

Objective: To explore possible associations of age, gender, socio-economic status, educational level and level of cognitive functioning with depressive symptoms in a community sample of elderly persons.

Method: Two hundred elderly persons from two communities in Kingston, Jamaica, were randomly selected for participation in the study. They or their caregivers provided sociodemographic information and participants also completed the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale (ZSDS) and the Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE).

The prevalence and associated demographic factors of dementia from a cross-sectional community survey in Kingston, Jamaica.

Objectives: Using a cross-sectional community survey, the authors aimed to estimate the prevalence of dementia among a sample of older Jamaicans and to identify associated demographic factors.

Methods: From February to July 2010, persons of age ≥60 years were randomly selected from two communities in Kingston, Jamaica and screened with the Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE). All MMSE-positive participants and an equal number of matched MMSE-negative participants underwent definitive diagnostic evaluation for dementia using the Clinical and Diagnostic Assessment Procedure for Dementia.

Mental health policy and service system development in the English-speaking Caribbean.

The countries and territories comprising the English-speaking Caribbean (ESC) have made some strides in the development of mental health policy, services and systems with the expenditure in mental health as a percentage of health budgets ranging from 1% to 7%. The ESC countries have well developed primary healthcare systems. However mental health legislations in many countries are in need of reform.