ABSTRACT
A survey of immunization status and serological immunity to polio was carried out in 5 parishes in Jamaica in 1985. A sample of 2,506 children and adolescents aged 1 - 19 years was chosen by selecting clusters of children in enumeration districts (EDs) in each parish from the 1980 Census. Immunization status was verified by examining immunization records. Serological assay for antibodies to Polio Types 1, 2 =, and 3 was done. A positive neutralization test at dilution of 1:8 was done. A positive neutralization test at dilution of 1:8 was taken as immunity to the polio virus. Of the 1,819 children whose immunization status was confirmed, coverage with 3 or more doses of roral polio vaccine was highest in the 1 - 4 year age group with with 79.7% and lowest in the 15 - 19-year age group with 37.4%. Of the 2,506 children 81.4%, 94.7% and 72.3% were seropositive for Polio Types 1, 2 and 3 respectively. There was a significant difference in the prevalence of seropositives between individuals with and those without a history of vaccinations. No urban/rural or sex differences were noted. The study indicated a higher level of immunization status than previous surveys and a high level of serological immunity to polio
Subject(s)
Infant, Newborn , Infant , Child, Preschool , Child , Adolescent , Humans , Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral/immunology , Antibody Formation , Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral/therapeutic use , Sampling Studies , JamaicaABSTRACT
A review of surveillance data on AIDS and HIV infection in the eighteen English-speaking Caribbean countries and Suriname suggests an evolving pattern of AIDS apidemic in the Caribbean, with different countries at various stages of transition. The epidemic began in 1983 among homosexual and bisexual males, and then was followed by an increase in AIDS cases resulting from heterosexual contact, the current predominant mode of HIV transmission in Trinidad and Tobago, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Barbados, and many other countries. This rapid transition from homosexual to heterosexual transmision appears to have been facilitated by sociocultural and behavioral patterns which may be considered typical of the Caribbean population. Overall, three has been a declining trend in male to female ratio of cases, except in Guyana, which so far has only reported cases among males. Perinatal transmission is already a major problem in many countries-19 percent of cases in the Bahamas are among children under 15 years of age. Serosurveys conducted in Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Antigua. St. Vincent, and other countries show high HIV seroprevalence among homosexuals (14-40 percent), prisoers (4.0-10.0 percent), prostitutes (1.5-13 percent) and cocaine users (2.0 percent); at present prevalences in the general population continues to be low