Attitudes and practices of pesticide users in Saint Lucia, West Indies

This article reports the results of a Saint Lucia survey, part of a larger program, that was the first to document the prevalence of suboptimal safety practices among vector control and farm workers using pesticides in the English-speaking Caribbean. Among other things, the survey found that many of 130 pesticide users surveyed were unaware that the skin and eyes were important potential routes of absorption. Over a quarter said had felt ill at some point as a result of pesticide use. About half the respondents said they had received more than "introductory" training in safe pesticide use, and most said they always found labels or directions affixed to pesticide containers. However, about half said they never or only sometimes understood the labels, and many of those who said they understood did not always follow the instructions. About a quarter of the smokers said they smoked while using pesticides; about a sixth of the survey subjects said they ate food while using pesticides; and over 60 percent said they never wore protective clothing

Epidemiological indicators and epidemiology of measles in the English-speaking Caribbean and Suriname

The main purpose of this article is to discuss the definitions and limitations of the indicators used to study the epidemiology of measles in the English-speaking Caribbean and Suriname. In addition, the epidemiology of measles over the past ten years is briefly reviewed, with a focus on recent epidemics. The predicted epidemilogical picture of measles over the next few years is also discussed and, finally, the difference between elimination and eradiction of measles is explained.

A health situation analysis in Trinidad and Tobago, 1990: the local health systems approach

This HSA exercise confirmed known patterns of health and disease in Trinidad and Tobago but produced valuable new information on health status, particularly as it relates to the different local health administrative areas. This was perhaps the most valuable aspect of the analysis. We cannot overemphasize the need for disaggregated data as summary statistics often mask the true state of affairs. This report has focussed on the health status of the population and emphasized again the dominant role of chronic non-communicable diseases and accidents as causes of death. Among males, aged 15 - 44 years, AIDS was the third leading cause of death in 1987, and can be expected to become even more important as a cause of death over the next few years. Other and equally important information on the status of the health information system and the health services situation was also produced and will be discussed elsewhere. (summary)

Epidemiologia del SIDA y de la infeccion por el VIH en el Caribe / Epidemiology of AIDS and HIV infection in the Caribbean

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