The centrality of community dynamics in the socio-economic recovery of devastated communities / El carácter central de la dinámica de la comunidad en la recuperación socio-económica de las comunidades devastadas

OBJECTIVE: To assess and explore the health and socio-economic outcomes of Jubilee, a community on the Caribbean island of Grenada hit by Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and to identify remaining barriers to recovery. METHODS: The assessment consisted of a mixed methods approach employing observations, household surveys, in-depth interviews and focus groups. RESULTS: Eighty-five per cent of the residents live in a single-family home type dwelling which is occupied by multiple families. Twenty-seven per cent of the respondents depended on a river or stream for water and 83% utilized an outdoor pit latrine. Construction accounted for 28% of the employment while 16% reported having no occupation. Public and private transportation was limited and 48% of the residents lived on less than one United States of America (US) dollar per day. Access to healthcare was reported by 89% and the prevalence of diabetes and hypertension was identified by 13% and 30% of the residents respectively. Social fragmentation within the community represents a barrier that keeps the community from developing common goals leading to full economic recovery. CONCLUSION: Jubilee has not fully recovered from the effects of Hurricane Ivan, but progress has been made in the reconstruction effort. These efforts have addressed the most immediate and basic needs of the community, mainly utility service infrastructure and home repairs. However, issues related to the community's economic recovery are still unresolved.

OBJETIVO: Evaluar y explorar la salud y los resultados socio-económicos de Jubilee, una comunidad de la isla caribeña de Granada, afectada por el huracán Iván en el 2004, e identificar los obstáculos que aún quedan para la recuperación. MÉTODOS: La evaluación consistió en un abordaje de métodos mezclados que empleaban la observación, encuestas domésticas, entrevistas detalladas, y grupos focales (grupos de discusión). RESULTADOS: El ochenta y cinco por ciento de los residentes viven en viviendas que son para una sola familia, pero están ocupadas por familias múltiples. El veinte por ciento de los encuestados dependían de un río o una corriente para obtener agua, y un 83% utilizaba letrinas de pozo exteriores. La construcción daba cuenta del 28% de los empleos, en tanto que el 16% reportó no tener ocupación. Tanto el transporte público como el privado se hallaban limitados, y el 48% de los residentes vivían con menos de un dólar americano (1 USD) por día. Acceso a la atención a la salud fue reportado por 89% y la prevalencia de la diabetes y la hipertensión fue identificada por el 13% y el 30% de los residentes, respectivamente. La fragmentación social dentro de la comunidad representa un obstáculo que impide que la comunidad desarrolle metas comunes, que conduzcan a una plena recuperación económica. CONCLUSIÓN: Jubilee no se ha recuperado totalmente de los efectos del huracán Iván, pero ha habido progreso en los esfuerzos por la reconstrucción. Estos esfuerzos han estado dirigidos a las necesidades básicas y más inmediatas de la comunidad, fundamentalmente a la reparación de las casas y las infraestructuras de servicios. Sin embargo, los problemas relacionados con la recuperación económica de la comunidad siguen aún sin solución.

The centrality of community dynamics in the socio-economic recovery of devastated communities.

OBJECTIVE: To assess and explore the health and socio-economic outcomes of Jubilee, a community on the Caribbean island of Grenada hit by Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and to identify remaining barriers to recovery. METHODS: The assessment consisted of a mixed methods approach employing observations, household surveys, in-depth interviews and focus groups. RESULTS: Eighty-five per cent of the residents live in a single-family home type dwelling which is occupied by multiple families. Twenty-seven per cent of the respondents depended on a river or stream for water and 83% utilized an outdoor pit latrine. Construction accounted for 28% of the employment while 16% reported having no occupation. Public and private transportation was limited and 48% of the residents lived on less than one United States of America (US) dollar per day. Access to healthcare was reported by 89% and the prevalence of diabetes and hypertension was identified by 13% and 30% of the residents respectively. Social fragmentation within the community represents a barrier that keeps the community from developing common goals leading to full economic recovery. CONCLUSION: Jubilee has not fully recovered from the effects of Hurricane Ivan, but progress has been made in the reconstruction effort. These efforts have addressed the most immediate and basic needs of the community, mainly utility service infrastructure and home repairs. However issues related to the community's economic recovery are still unresolved.

Seroprevalence of Leptospira in dogs in Grenada, West Indies.

Leptospira bacteria infect numerous species of animals and cause serious disease in both dogs and humans. Leptospirosis is caused by many different serovars and canine vaccine protection is serovar-specific. The objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence and serovars of Leptospira in dogs in the island of Grenada, West Indies. Serum samples from 105 dogs were evaluated by the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) and by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method adapted for canine Immunoglobulin M(IgM). Sera from 20 dogs were positive by MAT (195) and 67 were positive by ELISA (64.0%). All MAT-positive sera were also ELISA-positive. Percent seropositive did not differ significantly by age, sex or health score of dog or among the 6 parishes of Grenada. Fourteen of the MAT positive samples had anitbodies for multiple Leptospira serovars. All but one of the identified serovars were from the Icterohaemorrhagiae serogroup and included in decreasing order of frequency copenhagen, mankarso and icterohaemorrhagiae RGA. One dog was identified with antibodies for sergroup Pyrogenes serovar pyrogenes. Identification of the Leptospira serovars responsible for canine exposure in Grenada will facilitate appropriate recommendations for canine vacccination on the island.

Seroprevalence of Leptospira in dogs in Grenada, West Indies.

Leptospira bacteria infect numerous species of animals and cause serious disease in both dogs and humans. Leptospirosis is caused by many different serovars and canine vaccine protection is serovar-specific. The objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence and serovars of Leptospira in dogs in the island of Grenada, West Indies. Serum samples from 105 dogs were evaluated by the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) and by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method adapted for canine Immunoglobulin M(IgM). Sera from 20 dogs were positive by MAT (195) and 67 were positive by ELISA (64.0%). All MAT-positive sera were also ELISA-positive. Percent seropositive did not differ significantly by age, sex or health score of dog or among the 6 parishes of Grenada. Fourteen of the MAT positive samples had anitbodies for multiple Leptospira serovars. All but one of the identified serovars were from the Icterohaemorrhagiae serogroup and included in decreasing order of frequency copenhagen, mankarso and icterohaemorrhagiae RGA. One dog was identified with antibodies for sergroup Pyrogenes serovar pyrogenes. Identification of the Leptospira serovars responsible for canine exposure in Grenada will facilitate appropriate recommendations for canine vacccination on the island.