Young stroke mortality in fiji islands: an economic analysis of national human capital resource loss.

Introduction. The objective of this study was to perform an economic analysis in terms of annual national human capital resource loss from young stroke mortality in Fiji. The official retirement age is 55 years in Fiji. Method. Stroke mortality data, for working-age group 15-55 years, obtained from the Ministry of Health and per capita national income figure for the same year was utilised to calculate the total output loss for the economy. The formula of output loss from the economy was used. Results. There were 273 stroke deaths of which 53.8% were of working-age group. The annual national human capital loss from stroke mortality for Fiji for the year was calculated to be F$8.85 million (US$5.31 million). The highest percentage loss from stroke mortality was from persons in their forties; that is, they still had more then 10 years to retirement. Discussion. This loss equates to one percent of national government revenue and 9.7% of Ministry of Health budget for the same year. The annual national human capital loss from stroke mortality is an important dimension in the overall economic equation of total economic burden of stroke. Conclusion. This study demonstrates a high economic burden for Fiji from stroke mortality of young adults in terms of annual national human capital loss.

Oral health status of older adults in Fiji: 1985-1999.

This paper examines the oral health status of older adults in Fiji to determine the risks of dental disabilities. Using cross-sectional data collected in 1985 and 1999, logistic regression models are used to measure the effect of select demographic, socioeconomic and health variables on difficulty with chewing. While the general picture for the older persons is quite positive, the largest concern is the striking increase in poverty as a predictor for our dependent variable.