The Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Mask Use for COVID-19 Among the Students of the University of the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago

⮚ Coronavirus Disease 2019 was declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020. ⮚ Facemasks are recommended by the WHO to prevent droplet and aerosol transmission even in vaccinated persons ⮚ The study aims to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of mask use for COVID-19 among the student population of The University of West Indies, St. Augustine.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices towards the flu (influenza) vaccine and Covid-19 vaccines amongst university staff and university students in Trinidad and Tobago

• Vaccines prevent and control public health outbreaks through creating antibodies . • As of July 3rd, 2021, 105,586 persons were vaccinated with two doses. • Available vaccines at the time, were AstraZeneca (viral vector) and Sinopharm (inactivated vaccines). • The Covid-19 vaccine must be utilized for herd immunity to occur to prevent strains in the health system in Trinidad and Tobago.

COVID-19 Stressors among Dental Academics at UWI­A Caribbean Perspective

COVID-19 is a pandemic that has a ected health care personnel worldwide. Dentists have a high risk of contracting COVID-19 given the face-to-face contact required in daily interactions with their patients. This study aimed to determine the stressors experienced by academic dentists due to the COVID-19 situation in Trinidad and Jamaica. All academic staff at the University of the West Indies (UWI) dental schools (St. Augustine and Mona campuses) were invited to complete a self-reported questionnaire, which was conducted for one month from May to June 2020. Thirty-two dental academics responded and the response rate was 61.54%. More than a third (34.4%) were in the 25­35 age group, 71.9% were females. The most common speciality (20.7%) was restorative dentistry. Just over one-third (38.7%) had been in academia for 5­10 years. Most (40.6%) were apprehensive about infecting their family. When the locus of control was determined, just over half (53.1%) felt they were in control of protecting themselves while 34.4% felt that external factors controlled their lives. The findings suggest that academic sta at UWI dental schools (Trinidad and Jamaica) were stressed by the COVID-19 situation. The vast majority were worried about infecting their families.

Students' Perspectives on the Educational Environment in a Caribbean dental School during Pre-clinical Years

This study aims to elicit student perspectives of the learning environment at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine dental school during their pre-clinical years of undergraduate training. A questionnaire was administered to all pre-clinical students of the dental school in 2009. The data collected were analyzed using SPSS. Library and learning resources, student-faculty-administration relationships, meaningful experience and breath-of-interest were the survey subheadings rated most favourably. Student support, flexibility and emotional climate were the survey subheadings which received the most unfavourable ratings. These findings were in congruence of that of similar studies of US and UK medical and dental Schools. Trinidadian students rated library and learning resources significantly lower than non-Trinidadian students. Males rated student-student interaction significantly higher than females. The UWI School of Dentistry needs to focus on the allocation of resources to increase student awareness of its student support systems that are available to them - especially those that deal with student stress and coping skills. It also needs to re-examine its learning environment as it pertains to flexibility.

Medical Library - then and now

The paper traces the Medical Library's growth, development and its relationship with the Faculty of Medical Sciences (FMS), researchers and other users pursuing their teaching, research and patient care. The information is analyzed, synthesized and organized from the annual reports of the Vice Chancellor, Principal, Libraries, various Departments in the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Office of Planning, Institutional Research, and the Web Pages of the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica (AU)

Violence against students in halls of residence on the University of the West Indies Mona Campus

OBJECTIVE: This study presents an assessment of the phenomenon and impact of violence against students in Halls of Residence on the Mona Campus. RATIONALE: It is hoped that this study will provide useful information and insights, which would facilitate the development of politics and programmes to prevent, reduce and control violence on the Mona Campus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted over 2 months (March to April 1997). A 27 percent systematic sample of 420 students was selected - 189 (45 percent) males and 231 (55 percent) females from a population of 1563. A self-administered questionnaire was used. A response rate of 334 (80 percent) completed questionnaire was realised. RESULTS: Person-years calculation of violence on campus revealed a high incidence (79.5 percent) in the first year, with rapid decline in subsequent years. A significant difference (X2 = 12.29, d.f.4., p<0.01) was noted between incidence of violence and duration of residence on campus. The majority (52.9 percent) of alleged abusers were not strangers, but other students known to the respondents. Other alleged perpetrators included strangers (19 percent) and acquaintances (16 percent). Male students contributed 82 percent of reported violence against female students and 72 percent were committed against male students. Sexual violence directed towards the female students was three times as great as that towards males (m=15, f=61). Self-reported violence perpetrated by students against other students (38 percent) involved the consumption of alcohol by perpetrators and 3 percent involved the use of marijuana and other substances. Among self-reported characteristics of perpetrators were disagreement (39.3 percent), jealousy (39.2 percent) and anger (31.6 percent). The majority, 200 (59.9 percent), of students responded to violence by communicating the incidents to a friend. Only a minority (4.5 percent) reported the incidents to the police and (2.4 percent) availed themselves of counselling services. Students' responses to penalty for misconduct were significant in sexual abuse (X2=13.65,d.f..6., p<0.01). DISCUSSION: The high incidence of violence in the first year may be a reflection of students' lack of concern (Khan, 1996) in making safety their first priority. The males were the main targets of physical and psychological violence, as well as the main perpetrators of physical and sexual violence.(Au)

Medicine then and now: a review of the first forty years - University of the West Indies. Faculty of Medical Sciences commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the UWI

A review of the first forty years of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, UWI

An assessment of the nutritional status of students at the University of the West Indies, Mona

A survey was undertaken to investigate the nutritional status of students at the University of the West Indies, Mona. The sample, confined to students under 26 years old, was stratified by sex, nationality and year of entry. From January to May 1984 the weight and height of 703 students were measured. The Quetelet, or Body Mass Index, (Wt.Ht-ý), was used to classify them as either underweight, 'normal' or overweight. Blood samples obtained, via finger-prick, from 238 students and haemoglobin estimated using the cyanomethaemoglobin procedure (72). A mail questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic data and information pertaining to eating habits, physical activity, and expenditure, the constraints, and suggestions for improving their diets. Body measurements and haemoglobin levels were analysed by tenure at the UWI, socio-demographic characteristics and eating habits. Thirty-eight percent were classified as underweight, 55 percent were 'normal' with 7 percent overweight. There were significantly more underweight females (48 percent) than males (28 percent). Weight-for-height of the students was below the NCHS (81) 50th centile. However, the Jamaican students were taller and heavier than age-matched Jamaicans of 1959. There were more underweight Jamaican students (39 percent) than from the other countries. The anthropometric measurements of students living at, and away from home were similar, however, females at home had higher haemoglobin levels (p<0.01) than those living elsewhere. All the men, and 87 percent of the women had 'normal' haemoglobin levels. The anthropometric measurements of first and third year students were similar, but more first years (41 percent) were underweight. Two hundred and twenty-nine students (55 percent) returned the questionnaires. There was a significant association between nutritional status and parents' income group. While sources of funds varied, most students received financial assistance from their parents. Forty-five percent ate less food and 57 percent have a less varied diet since coming to the UWI. Lack of money and poor quality cafeteria food were among the constraints to improving their diets. Many expressed the need for nutrition counselling. Detailed dietary and biomedical investigations, together with nutrition surveillance by the health services are recommended (AU)

Future leadership in public health in the Commonwealth Caribbean, including the role of the University of the West Indies

Advances in public health in Commonwealth Caribbean over the past four decades have been well marked by the decline in communicable diseases which were among the leading causes of death. Among the advances must be included the eradication of malaria from several Commonwealth Caribbean countries. Inspite of the progress made, there are still embarrassing occasions when certain preventable diseases reach epidemic proportions. Many of the advances made were possible through dynamic leadership. There is a shortage of qualified management personnel in all branches of the health services, and this results very often in the lack of implementation of various programmes and the misuse of limited resources. To maintain and continue reasonable standards of public health, training of health personnel for future leadership is of paramount importance. The role of the University of the West Indies must of necessity be as a centre of learning and research as well as an important agent for change and development at the national and regional levels. In the final analysis, it is people who will count. Whatever successes or failures we may have will depend on people at both the provider and the consumer levels. Therefore, leaders must be committed to the overall goals of the health service and there should be an enthusiasm and excitement about aiming at, and striving for, excellence in the execution of programmes (AU)

Public health training programs at the University of the West Indies

The Department of Preventive Medicine of the University of the West Indies was established in 1957 with the idea of improving undergraduate teaching facilities to enable medical students to study patients in their homes and social environment. The authors describe the two public health diploma programs available at the University and cite pertinent enrollment and geographic distribution statistics. Candidates for the Diploma in Public Health are registered medical practitioners who take a series of compulsory and elective subjects and have a period of supervised field training and research during the 12-month course. The Diploma in Community Health trains students in the health and diseases of man in his total environment. Students choose among three program options: the general program, specialization in health education, or specialization in health service administration. The general program is the most popular because it gives the student a rounded education suitable to the needs of small states. The 12-month diploma course features the interdisciplinary approach where students from various fields discuss important issues in community health. Comprehensive courses in these areas include health services administration, social sciences, environmental health, epidemiology and biostatistics, family health, communication science, and community mental health. The authors state that the candidate for the Diploma in Community Health is assessed on the basis of course and field work, a special project report, and a final written and oral examination. (SUMMARY)