Demographic and Lifestyle Factors that affect HbA1c awareness amongst type II diabetic patients in Trinidad

• Trinidad and Tobago is amongst the countries with the greatest burden of type II diabetes in the western hemisphere • Educating type II diabetic patients in controlling their glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) are recommended as measures to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with type II diabetic complications • Measurement of HbA1c in type II diabetic patients represents their glycemic history for the former 8 ­ 12 weeks and should be tested every 3 months to monitor patients' metabolic control • This study is aimed at measuring HbA1c awareness amongst T2D population in Trinidad and making recommendations based on results

Is the Jamaican Population aware of the symptoms of diabetes mellitus? - abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to identify the level of awareness of a sample of Jamaicans to symptoms of diabetes mellitus. METHODS: Diabetes mellitus is a common medical condition in the Jamaican population, and early recognition of symptoms and early diagnosis of this disease leads to better prognosis. A questionnaire was administered by way of an interview in public areas in Montego Bay, Buff Bay, Port Antonio, and Spanish Town to determine the mean level of awareness about some of the early and later symptoms of diabetes mellitus. One hundred and twenty persons were selected, 60 diabetics and 60 non-diabetics (49 males and 71 females), 40 persons from each of the three parishes. Correct recognition of early symptoms of diabetes attracted more points than did the recognition of late symptoms of diabetes mellitus. The sources from which this information was acquired were also recorded. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between the mean level of awareness of the symptoms of diabetes mellitus between the diabetic and non-diabetic study population (p = 0.0005); the diabetics were more aware of the symptoms than the non-diabetics (p = 0.001). Female subjects were more aware than the males, (p = 0.002); there was no statistically significant difference in awareness between the younger and older subjects, nor among the samples chosen from the three parishes. CONCLUSION: There is scope for more public health education to improve the level of awareness of the Jamaican Populace to the symptoms of diabetes mellitus.(Au)

The Human Ruminant

A five-month-old female infant was admitted to the Tropical Metabolism Research Unit with a weight for age of 49 percent and no evidence of oedema giving rise to a diagnosis of marasmus (Wellcome Classification). The underlying reason for her malnutrition was the Infant Rumination syndrome. This is an uncommon disorder which is thought to have a psychological component. A lack of awareness of the syndrome often leads to delay in diagnosis. (AU)

Aspects of awareness during elective and emergency operations in three Jamaican hospitals, including a review of the literature

The incidence of awareness of intraoperative events, in 506 anaesthetized adult patients at three hospitals in Jamaica, was investigated. Prospective and retrospective studies on the topic were also reviewed. The overall incidence of awareness for the total study population was found to be 3 percent. The incidence for the individual hospital was: Victoria Jubilee Hospital (VJH) - 4.3 percent; Spanish Town Hospital (STH) - 3.5 percent; University Hospital of the West Indies (UCH) - 2.4 percent The physical characteristics of the patients did not appear to influence the incidence of awareness. However, the patient's preoperative emotional state appeared to influence the occurrence of intraoperative awareness. A correlation between the incidence of awareness was observed in the shorter operative procedures. Also a higher incidence of awareness occurred in obstetrical emergency procedures when compared with other operative procedures. Recommendations to prevent and/or minimize the occurrence of intraoperative awareness were suggested (AU)

Aspects of immunization in St. Mary 1965 to 1975

From the results of the study, it is evident that the public's awareness of, and response to immunization has been below the required standard (AU)