Emerging evidence of the effectiveness of nutrition services

Despite lack of uniformity of data, emerging evidence of the effictiveness of nutrition services in outpatient services , prenatal services, among diabetic and hypertensive patients indicate that nutrition services can lead to dietary change and subsequently to improved health outcomes and ultimately to decreased health care costs

Jamaican service club members beliefs about some chronic diseases (Part II) - abstract

This survey sets out to examine Jamaican Service Club members' beliefs about prevention strategies for hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and obesity; the prevalence of modifiable risk factors and to estimate self-reported cardiovascular risk. Kiwanis, Lions and Rotary Club members completed questionnaires which assessed their knowledge of specific strategies to prevent hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and obesity. Service clubs in Kingston, Jamaica were sampled at their regular monthly meetings. Among the 320 members, 253 were males, 67 were females and the majority (61.4 per cent) of respondents had attended university. Respondents demonstrated moderate to high accuracy in their ability to identify prevention strategies for hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and obesity. The majority of respondents (85.9 per cent) reported normal blood pressure levels, and a non-smoking habit (84.8 per cent). However, as many as 31.8 per cent of respondents indicated that their blood cholesterol levels had never been measured. More females (49.3 per cent) than males (27.0 per cent) had never measured their blood cholesterol level. Despite widespread awareness of the importance of exercise for decreasing the risk of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and obesity, only 36.7 per cent of males and 27.3 per cent of females participated in aerobic activity three times a week. Since exercise appears to be the limiting factor for improving cardiovascular health, programme planners who seek to improve cardiovascular health among service club members need to offer effective strategies for translating individuals' knowledge about the importance of exercise into a personal fitness programme. The highest cardiovascular risk score was derived by those who never participated in aerobic exercise (1.13), compared to those who exercised three times a week (.66). Maximum cardiovascular score was 3.5, minimum 0.0. Those who had attempted to lose weight within six months of the survey (1.00) had a significantly higher risk score than those who had never attempted weight loss (.56) (p<.05), suggesting that chronic dieters were largely unsuccessful at achieving permanent weight loss. Females (.93) had a higher cardiovascular risk compared to males (.77), although the difference was not statistically significant. History of attempted weight loss and aerobic exercise were the only significant predictors of cardiovascular risk

Jamaican fast food consumption patterns

Household interviews were conducted with a nationally representative quota sample of 948 rural and urban Jamaicans to examine attitudes to fast food restautants and fast food eating patterns; and how those attitudes and patterns vary by age, location, social class and gender. The most popular fast food restaurant was Kentucky Fried Chicken, which was twice more favoured as its closest rival Mothers', followed by Tastee Patties. Professionals were more likely to patronize Burger King than unskilled persons. Kentucky Fried Chicken was rated as the most expensive fast food restaurant as well as the fast food restaurant offering the fastest service; serving the tastiest, and best quality food. the most popular fast food was fried chicken, twice as popular as traditional Jamaican patties (cresent-shaped pastry shells filled with a green leafy vegetable, vegetables, or ground beef), followed by hamburgers and cheeseburgers. Regarding frequency of visits to fast food restaurants, 20.2 percent of respondents had visited fast food restaurants once in the three-month period prior to the interview. Approximately 29.2 percent had patronized fast food restaurants between two-to-five times, and 19.8 percent had not visited a fast food restaurant within the last three-months. Males were more likely than females to patronize fast food restaurants on a regular basis

Grado de adaptación de programas de educación sanitaria de la comunidad en América Latina y el Caribe / Adaptation level of community health education programs in Latin American and Caribbean

Se estudió el grado de adaptación de 60 programas de educación sanitaria de la comunidad efectuados en 20 países de América Latina y el Caribe entre 1975 y 1982. El grado de adaptación se define como la medida en que se utilizan los recursos humanos y materiales de la comunidad. Un programa bien adaptado se caracteriza por participación máxima de la gente y utilización óptima de los recursos de la localidad. El estudio fue motivado por la escasez de investigaciones sobre el tema en la región. Tomando en cuenta la participación relativa de la comunidad y de los trabajadores de salud, así como el origen del financiamiento de los programas, se estabelecen tres grados de adaptación: personal local, ecléctica e institucional externa. De acuerdo con parámetros previamente establecidos y validados mediante el análisis de varianza, tres examinadores analizaron los informes de los 60 programas seleccionados. Tan solo 20% de los programas estudiados permitieron a la comunidad determinar sus necesidades. En 35% hubo participación de personas influyentes de la comunidad. Cerca de la mitad no indicaron si las creencias prevalecientes acerca de la salud eran conocidas y si fueron tomadas en cuenta en la fase de planeación. La mayor parte de los programas (53,3%) utilizaron fondos locales, y 43,3% tanto locales como externos (incluso extranjeros). En 36,7% no se pudo determinar el grado de coordinación intersectorial, pero en otro porcentaje igual esta fue máxima. Se concluye que los programas de educación sanitaria analizados presentan grandes deficiencias en el grado de adaptación. Se reconoce además que el asunto merece ser estudiado más a fondo, y se hace una serie de recomendaciones prácticas al respecto