Poliomyelitis era in Trinidad from 1940 to 1972 and beyond: Implications for effective global health governance for its eradication.

Background: Acute poliomyelitis (APM/polio) is a viral infection caused by the polio virus that continues to have a fascinating social and economic impact on countries throughout the world. Humans acquire the virus by close personal contact with transmission occurring through the fecal-oral route. The majority of poliovirus infections results in no illness or produces only self-limited symptoms, however in approximately 5% of infected patients flaccid paralysis of the limbs can occur and 1% can die.

Towards the Elimination of Syphilis in a Small Developing Country.

Objective. To describe the current epidemiological features of syphilis and congenital syphilis in Trinidad, 2009-2012. Methods.

Evaluation and Use of Registry Data in a GIS Analysis of Diabetes.

Objectives: to evaluate registry data routinely collected by the Chronic Disease Electronic Management System (CDEMS) in the monitoring of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the Eastern half of the island and use the data to describe the spatial epidemiological patterns of T2DM.

Design And Method: The starting point was access and retrival of all exsisting data on the diabetes registry. This data was subsequently validated using handwritten medical records.

Challenges to the control of breast cancer in a small developing country.

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the clinicopathological features of breast cancer in two dedicated cancer treatment centers in north Trinidad. The histological types and stage at presentation were also investigated.

Design And Methods: A retrospective cohort design was used; data were collected from a review of medical records of patients meeting the entry criteria.

Assessing the HIV rapid test in the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Trinidad.

Objective: To evaluate the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) rapid test as an effective tool in the response to the HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic in Trinidad.

Design And Methods: The study is comprised of a retrospective analysis of data collected from May 2008 to July 15, 2011 and a prospective arm of those tested during July 18, 2011 - August 30, 2011. During the prospective phase, blood samples were tested using rapid tests manufactured by Inverness Medical Innovation and Trinity Biotech followed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test, irrespective of the results of the rapid test.

Are teenagers at risk for developing cardiovascular disease in later life?

Background: The aim of this study is to measure the occurrences of the following risk factors: tobacco use, levels of physical activity, levels of physical inactivity, and body mass index (BMI) among adolescents in Trinidad.

Methods: A two-stage random sampling process was used to select schools and students. Data were collected using a pretested self-administered questionnaire and included age, gender, ethnicity, tobacco use, levels of physical activity, levels of physical inactivity, BMI, and frequency of fast food consumption.

Screening for psychiatric illness among students of the University of the West Indies, Trinidad.

Method: This cross-sectional observational study was performed in 2007 by convenience sampling of 1031 full-time undergraduate students registered in years 1, 2 and 3 in the academic year 2007/2008, administering a basic demographics questionnaire along with the standardised General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) to each participant.

Results: The population of full-time students at the University of the West Indies (UWI) was found to be mentally healthy (median GHQ score was 5.00; GHQ = 6 considered "mentally unhealthy").

Prostate cancer survival in Trinidad: Is PSA a prognostic factor?

Background: Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy among men in the western hemisphere, including Trinidad and Tobago. The aim of this study is to describe the epidemiological features of prostate cancer among patients admitted to a tertiary level teaching hospital during 2002 to 2005. We assessed the long-term survival of patients with prostate cancer and the epidemiology of the disease.

The occurrence of left ventricular hypertrophy in normotensive individuals in a community setting in North-East Trinidad.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine primarily the occurrence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in normotensive Trinidadians.

Design And Methods: Enrollment into the study required participants to have normal blood pressure (≤ 140/90) using the JNC 7 (The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure) classification, free of type 2 diabetes, as well as no existing LVH. Upon entry into the study, participants were first screened for LVH using a standard 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), using the Sokolow-Lyon index and the Cornell index.

The rabies epidemic in Trinidad of 1923 to 1937: an evaluation with a Geographic Information System.

Background: Rabies, although not preeminent among current infectious diseases, continues to afflict humans with as many as 55,000 deaths annually. The case fatality rate remains the highest among infectious diseases, and medical treatments have proven ineffective.

Objective: This study analyzes the rabies epidemic of 1929 to 1937 in Trinidad from a geographical perspective, using Geographic Information System (GIS) software as an analytical tool.

Contraceptive knowledge, attitudes and changing practices in women presenting to maternal and child health clinics in North Central Trinidad.

Unlabelled: The relationship between contraceptive awareness and use in an environment of both high levels of unplanned pregnancies and prevalence of HIV/AIDS continues to be a major challenge. The objective of this study is to ascertain the knowledge of contraception and methods chosen in women of 18-45 years old attending primary care facilities in North Central Trinidad.

Methods: We used a cross-sectional study design with a knowledge, attitude, and practices type survey design.

An evaluation of intervention strategies for HIV/AIDS in Trinidad and Tobago (2000-2007).

Unlabelled: To evaluate the impact of health promotional strategies against The Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in Trinidad and Tobago.

Methods: The HIV/AIDS Morbidity and Mortality reports were used to chart the pattern of change in the incidence of new HIV positive cases for the years 2000-2007 to determine the decrease in new HIV positive cases after 2004 with the implementation of the National Strategic Plan as well as What's Your Position (WYP), KNOW Your Status and Get Tested Now campaigns. These effects were tested using a quasi-experimental, post exposure design.

The epidemiology of unplanned pregnancies in North-Central Trinidad.

Objective: to investigate the epidemiology of unplanned pregnancies in North-Central Trinidad and to evaluate the effect of level of education, marital status, religion, ethnicity, economics, and socioeconomic factors on the use of contraceptives in the society.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted between April and May 2007 at four primary health care facilities in Trinidad using a de novo pilot-tested questionnaire.

Results: Of the 172 participants, 103 had unplanned pregnancies (64.

Drugs in upper respiratory tract infections in paediatric patients in North Trinidad.

Objective: We explored the prescribing patterns of physicians in North Trinidad in treating upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) in paediatric patients and the appropriateness of drugs prescribed.

Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted, with a sample size of 523 paediatric patients, diagnosed with an URTI during the period of June 2003 to 22 June 2005. The study was conducted at five Primary Health Care Facilities in North Trinidad.

Has early initiation of sexual activity in adolescence had an impact on teenage childbearing in Trinidad and Tobago?

Unlabelled: Published data indicate that young people are initiating sexual activity at an early age and many do not practice contraceptive methods, which should impact on adolescent fertility and births.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the impact of sexual activity at an early age on adolescent childbearing in Trinidad and Tobago.

Study Group: Adolescents age 15-19 years.

The impact of the chronic disease assistance plan (CDAP) on the control of type 2 diabetes in Trinidad.

Objectives: (1) To measure the proportion of participants who used hypoglycaemic agents provided by CDAP only, for at least 6 months, and attained an HbA1c of
Design And Methods: The attainment of a glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) concentration of View Article and Find Full Text PDF

How well controlled are our type 2 diabetic patients in 2002? An observational study in North and Central Trinidad.

Objectives: To determine the proportion of diabetic patients that achieved glycemic control (HbA1c pound7.0%) and to explore some of the barriers to achieve this control.

Design: Cross-sectional, observational study.