No person left behind: Mapping the health policy landscape for genomics research in the Caribbean.

The Caribbean has long been an under-represented geographical region in the field of genomics research. Such under-representation may result in Caribbean people being underserved by precision medicine and other public health benefits of genomics. A collaboration among regional and international researchers aims to address this issue through the H3ECaribbean project (Human Heredity, Environment, and Health in the Caribbean), which builds on the lessons and success of H3Africa.

Neighbourhood socioeconomic characteristics and blood pressure among Jamaican youth: a pooled analysis of data from observational studies.

Introduction: Neighbourhood characteristics are associated with several diseases, but few studies have investigated the association between neighbourhood and health in Jamaica. We evaluated the relationship between neighbourhood socioeconomic status (SES) and blood pressure (BP) among youth, 15-24 years old, in Jamaica.

Methods: A pooled analysis was conducted using data from three studies (two national surveys and a birth cohort), conducted between 2005-2008, with individual level BP, anthropometric and demographic data, and household SES.

Knowledge, Beliefs and Practices of Patients with Diabetic Retinopathy at the University Hospital of the West Indies, Jamaica.

To determine the knowledge, beliefs and practices of patients with diabetic retinopathy attending the Retina Eye Clinic at the University Hospital of the West Indies. A prospective study was done using a questionnaire with a sample population of 150 patients. The questions included their knowledge about the frequency of their eye examination, the relevance of exercise and a healthy diet, the role of the ophthalmologist and their views on the importance of compliance with medications for diabetes and hypertension.

Certification of Coroners cases by pathologists would improve the completeness of death registration in Jamaica.

Objectives: Describe the completeness and quality of Jamaica's 2008 vital registration mortality database.

Study Design And Setting: Multiple sources (hospitals, police, forensic pathologists, Coroners courts) were used to validate deaths registered as occurring in 2008. A 10% random sample was examined to evaluate the quality of certification and coding.

Vital registration and under-reporting of maternal mortality in Jamaica.

Objective: To identify why vital registration under-reports maternal deaths in Jamaica.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken to identify all maternal deaths (during pregnancy or ≤42 days after pregnancy ended) occurring in 2008. Data sources included vital registration, hospital records, forensic pathology records, and an independent maternal mortality surveillance system.

Gender differences in the effects of urban neighborhood on depressive symptoms in Jamaica.

Objective: To explore the mental health effects of the urban neighborhood on men and women in Jamaica and the implications for urban planning and social development.

Methods: A cross-sectional household sample of 2 848 individuals 15-74 years of age obtained from the Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey 2007-2008 was analyzed. Secondary analysis was undertaken by developing composite scores to describe observer recorded neighborhood features, including infrastructure, amenities/services, physical conditions, community socioeconomic status, and green spaces around the home.

Factors affecting study efficiency and item non-response in health surveys in developing countries: the Jamaica national healthy lifestyle survey.

Background: Health surveys provide important information on the burden and secular trends of risk factors and disease. Several factors including survey and item non-response can affect data quality. There are few reports on efficiency, validity and the impact of item non-response, from developing countries.