World Journal Of Advanced Research and Reviews, Dec 30, 2022
Objective: The full academic potential of tertiary students in Jamaica is diminished by their str... more Objective: The full academic potential of tertiary students in Jamaica is diminished by their struggles to secure tuition and non-tuition financial resources. Principal among student needs is the ability to consume regular healthy meals. This study among three tertiary institutions in Jamaica explored the dynamics that affect student food security and how this can harm student success. It also examined how frequently tertiary students worry about feeding themselves and the extent to which they restrict their food intake. Methods: The analysis classified students as having low, moderate and severe hunger. Nine hundred and seventy-nine students completed the surveys through a quantitative method approach to collect data from students in different disciplines. To determine the factors related to hunger several demographic, socioeconomic , living conditions and academic-related variables were examined. Results: The study found that most of the students (38.3%) suffered from severe hunger followed by moderate hunger (33%) and the lowest proportion (29.3%) with no/mild hunger. More than 70% of students worried each month about not having enough food while 33% of the students sometimes do not eat for an entire day. Their physical and emotional readiness to study was compromised as 40% said hunger affected their academic work via a variety of reasons such as headaches, poor concentration, and missed classes. Importantly, the low-achieving students experienced the most hunger. Conclusion: With data showing a strong link between food insecurity and student disengagement, the issue of hunger on campus represents a priority. The study concludes that administrators, counselors and the students themselves have critical roles to address hunger if tertiary institutions are to fully meet their educational mandate.
The susceptibility to ampicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) was deter-mined for ... more The susceptibility to ampicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) was deter-mined for 15,824 isolates of Shigella obtained from patients attending a treatment center in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from 1983 through 1990 and for 520 isolates obtained during community ...
To determine the epidemiology and risk factors of rotavirus infections in St. Lucia, 229 children... more To determine the epidemiology and risk factors of rotavirus infections in St. Lucia, 229 children in three valleys with varying levels of sanitation were studied for 2 years. A four-fold rise in complement fixation antibody to rotavirus antigen was used in paired samples as evidence of recent infection. Results showed that forty-eight per cent of infants experienced at least one infection during a two-year period, and 17% of children were reinfected. Infections occurred within the first months of life and peaked between 6 and 23 months of age. The peak infection coincided with the dry season in each age group. Children breast-feeding had fewer infections. Although crowding within the home was significantly associated with repeated infection, the incidence of infection was not affected by the degree of sanitation. Other studies in the region, using recently developed techniques, concur with these findings which advance our understanding of the epidemiological importance of rotavirus in St. Lucia. Although these studies provide insights into the risk factors for rotavirus infections, other studies are required to determine whether investments should be focused on improved sanitation or immunization or both.
Revista panamericana de salud pública (Impresa), Aug 25, 2022
Objective. To assess the ability of low-income families to obtain a standard basket of healthy fo... more Objective. To assess the ability of low-income families to obtain a standard basket of healthy foods before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods. The costs of 191 food items were averaged from supermarkets, municipal markets, wholesalers, and community food outlets in high-and low-income areas in three Caribbean countries. The analysis compared foods not only by selecting high-and low-ranked commodities but by the proportions of those foods, by food group, that will be required to meet a low-cost, nutritionally balanced diet of 2 400 kcal. Results. The main finding was that low-income households will need between 22% and 47% of their earnings to obtain a healthy diet. Despite higher food prices in Saint Kitts and Nevis, low-income households there will need a smaller proportion of their income to obtain a similar basket of foods than in Jamaica or Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Conclusions. While the COVID-19 pandemic has added economic stressors to low-income households the basic vulnerability of the poor to obtain a healthy diet remains. Despite country variations, the findings point to the need for an increase in the minimum wage, particularly in Jamaica. It is essential to embed policies that ensure reduced economic and social vulnerability at the household level.
Studies at the Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute (CFNI) were conducted to provide informatio... more Studies at the Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute (CFNI) were conducted to provide information that would guide the prevention and management of major food and nutrition problems in the region. One of the Institutes mandates is to strengthen the capacity of countries to collect, analyse, interpret and use data to monitor develop, influence, strengthen or inform policy decisions, interventions and public education programmes. Over the years, numerous studies were done with countries at the individual level, however as a regional institution, the primary aim was (i) to identify the challenges and opportunities that have application across the region and (ii) to go beyond the descriptive work and elaborate the proximal and distal barriers and interventions that relate to the two major food and nutrition problems in the Caribbean -food insecurity and obesity. Central to all the research was the recognition that unless the studies are grounded in the context of poverty and inequity, the importance of the findings on food security and obesity will be consequently diminished.
The aim of this study was to determine what weaning foods and food preparation practices expose c... more The aim of this study was to determine what weaning foods and food preparation practices expose children to a high risk of diarrhoeal disease through exposure to a contaminated diet. Bacterial contamination of 897 food and 896 drinking water samples was assessed in a water and sanitation intervention project. The geometric mean of faecal coliforms per g or ml was 7-5 x 103 in left-over rice, 1-4 x 102 in other types of boiled rice, 2-5 x 102 in milk, 4-8 in household drinking water, and 3-5 in bread. Multiplication of faecal coliforms occurred when there was a delay of more than 4 h between preparation and consumption of food. All samples were more contaminated in the rainy than in the dry season. Strategies to reduce contamination should therefore focus on 'wet' foods, early consumption after preparation, and reheating of left-over foods. Understanding the reasons for the faulty practices is also essential to the formulation of effective measures.
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Dec 30, 2022
Objective: The full academic potential of tertiary students in Jamaica is diminished by their str... more Objective: The full academic potential of tertiary students in Jamaica is diminished by their struggles to secure tuition and non-tuition financial resources. Principal among student needs is the ability to consume regular healthy meals. This study among three tertiary institutions in Jamaica explored the dynamics that affect student food security and how this can harm student success. It also examined how frequently tertiary students worry about feeding themselves and the extent to which they restrict their food intake. Methods: The analysis classified students as having low, moderate and severe hunger. Nine hundred and seventy-nine students completed the surveys through a quantitative method approach to collect data from students in different disciplines. To determine the factors related to hunger several demographic, socioeconomic , living conditions and academic-related variables were examined. Results: The study found that most of the students (38.3%) suffered from severe hunger followed by moderate hunger (33%) and the lowest proportion (29.3%) with no/mild hunger. More than 70% of students worried each month about not having enough food while 33% of the students sometimes do not eat for an entire day. Their physical and emotional readiness to study was compromised as 40% said hunger affected their academic work via a variety of reasons such as headaches, poor concentration, and missed classes. Importantly, the low-achieving students experienced the most hunger. Conclusion: With data showing a strong link between food insecurity and student disengagement, the issue of hunger on campus represents a priority. The study concludes that administrators, counselors and the students themselves have critical roles to address hunger if tertiary institutions are to fully meet their educational mandate.
This study examined the role of food and water contamination in a health impact evaluation of a w... more This study examined the role of food and water contamination in a health impact evaluation of a water and sanitation intervention project. Although lower diarrhoea rates were found in the improved area no consistent difference in food and water contamination was observed between areas. Furthermore, no relationship was found between contamination and diarrhoea in either area, even after controlling for the nutritional status of children. These results imply that other vehicles of transmission might be more important than food and water in diarrhoeal transmission. The focus of interventions should therefore be on changing behaviours to improve overall hygiene.
Objective. To estimate industrially produced trans and saturated fatty acid levels in foods withi... more Objective. To estimate industrially produced trans and saturated fatty acid levels in foods within the Jamaican food system. Methods. A total of 308 commonly consumed foods were selected for analysis based on their potential to contain trans fatty acids. Samples were collected from supermarkets, convenience stores, and fast-food restaurants. Official methods of gas chromatography for the analysis of fats were used. The results were expressed as grams of fatty acid per 100 g of food sample and percentage of total fatty acids. Results. Total fat was found to exceed United Kingdom National Health Service (NHS) limits in 27.3% (n = 84/308) of food samples. About one-third (33.8%; n = 104/308) of commonly consumed foods in Jamaica contained varying levels of industrially produced trans fatty acids, while 7.8% exceeded the Pan American Health Organization limit of 2% of total fat. Industrially produced trans fatty acids were found in food categories such as canned meats, baked goods, cook...
The Caribbean is experiencing a worsening epidemic of obesity and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs)... more The Caribbean is experiencing a worsening epidemic of obesity and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and it has the worst rates of premature mortality from cardiovascular diseases in the region of the Americas. Creating enabling environments to improve dietary diversity would help reduce obesity and diet-related NCDs. The Improving Household Nutrition Security and Public Health in the CARICOM project aimed to increase dietary diversity in the Caribbean, and to determine and implement effective, gender-sensitive interventions to improve food sovereignty, household food security, and nutrition in CARICOM states. Primary quantitative and qualitative research, scoping reviews, stakeholder engagement, implementation of interventions and dissemination activities were undertaken. This paper describes the overall project design and implementation, discusses challenges and limitations, and presents core achievements to inform further work in Small Island Developing States throughout CARICOM to ...
Objective. To assess the ability of low-income families to obtain a standard basket of healthy fo... more Objective. To assess the ability of low-income families to obtain a standard basket of healthy foods before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods. The costs of 191 food items were averaged from supermarkets, municipal markets, wholesalers, and community food outlets in high- and low-income areas in three Caribbean countries. The analysis compared foods not only by selecting high- and low-ranked commodities but by the proportions of those foods, by food group, that will be required to meet a low-cost, nutritionally balanced diet of 2 400 kcal. Results. The main finding was that low-income households will need between 22% and 47% of their earnings to obtain a healthy diet. Despite higher food prices in Saint Kitts and Nevis, low-income households there will need a smaller proportion of their income to obtain a similar basket of foods than in Jamaica or Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Conclusions. While the COVID-19 pandemic has added economic stressors to low-income households t...
Objectives. To determine changes to income and livelihood, food consumption, and hunger due to co... more Objectives. To determine changes to income and livelihood, food consumption, and hunger due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in three Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Caribbean: Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Vincent and the Grenadines. Methods. This was a cross-sectional study conducted in July 2020. Participants were selected using telephone directories and lists of mobile numbers. Data were collected through face-to-face and telephone interviews. Participants rated the impact of COVID-19 on their livelihoods and the Adult Food Security Module was used to assess hunger. To examine how these outcomes varied by sociodemographic group, multivariable logistic regression analysis was used, with odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) reported. Results. The analysis included 880 participants. Of these, 40% (344/871) reported some form of hunger, with 18% (153/871) classed as moderate-to-severe hunger. Almost three quarters of households reported some im...
The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the globe and remains a threat to the food and nutrition securit... more The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the globe and remains a threat to the food and nutrition security of vulnerable communities due to the disruptions of the food system. This study assessed the impact of COVID-19 on food and nutrition security at the household level in eight Caribbean countries. The findings revealed that 16% of households reported that their diet was suboptimal during the crisis; among the households severely affected, rice and egg consumption increased whereas the utilization of meats, fish, chicken, vegetables, and fruit intake declined; 40% of households experienced some form of hunger and 42% of them reported that they were moderately to severely affected. As countries aim to recover and regain stability, households remain at risk and the situation on the ground may worsen and therefore the findings of this study may be modest. As such, food security should be an integral part of the policy framework to address immediate needs and the imperatives for long-term resilience.
World Journal Of Advanced Research and Reviews, Dec 30, 2022
Objective: The full academic potential of tertiary students in Jamaica is diminished by their str... more Objective: The full academic potential of tertiary students in Jamaica is diminished by their struggles to secure tuition and non-tuition financial resources. Principal among student needs is the ability to consume regular healthy meals. This study among three tertiary institutions in Jamaica explored the dynamics that affect student food security and how this can harm student success. It also examined how frequently tertiary students worry about feeding themselves and the extent to which they restrict their food intake. Methods: The analysis classified students as having low, moderate and severe hunger. Nine hundred and seventy-nine students completed the surveys through a quantitative method approach to collect data from students in different disciplines. To determine the factors related to hunger several demographic, socioeconomic , living conditions and academic-related variables were examined. Results: The study found that most of the students (38.3%) suffered from severe hunger followed by moderate hunger (33%) and the lowest proportion (29.3%) with no/mild hunger. More than 70% of students worried each month about not having enough food while 33% of the students sometimes do not eat for an entire day. Their physical and emotional readiness to study was compromised as 40% said hunger affected their academic work via a variety of reasons such as headaches, poor concentration, and missed classes. Importantly, the low-achieving students experienced the most hunger. Conclusion: With data showing a strong link between food insecurity and student disengagement, the issue of hunger on campus represents a priority. The study concludes that administrators, counselors and the students themselves have critical roles to address hunger if tertiary institutions are to fully meet their educational mandate.
The susceptibility to ampicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) was deter-mined for ... more The susceptibility to ampicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) was deter-mined for 15,824 isolates of Shigella obtained from patients attending a treatment center in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from 1983 through 1990 and for 520 isolates obtained during community ...
To determine the epidemiology and risk factors of rotavirus infections in St. Lucia, 229 children... more To determine the epidemiology and risk factors of rotavirus infections in St. Lucia, 229 children in three valleys with varying levels of sanitation were studied for 2 years. A four-fold rise in complement fixation antibody to rotavirus antigen was used in paired samples as evidence of recent infection. Results showed that forty-eight per cent of infants experienced at least one infection during a two-year period, and 17% of children were reinfected. Infections occurred within the first months of life and peaked between 6 and 23 months of age. The peak infection coincided with the dry season in each age group. Children breast-feeding had fewer infections. Although crowding within the home was significantly associated with repeated infection, the incidence of infection was not affected by the degree of sanitation. Other studies in the region, using recently developed techniques, concur with these findings which advance our understanding of the epidemiological importance of rotavirus in St. Lucia. Although these studies provide insights into the risk factors for rotavirus infections, other studies are required to determine whether investments should be focused on improved sanitation or immunization or both.
Revista panamericana de salud pública (Impresa), Aug 25, 2022
Objective. To assess the ability of low-income families to obtain a standard basket of healthy fo... more Objective. To assess the ability of low-income families to obtain a standard basket of healthy foods before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods. The costs of 191 food items were averaged from supermarkets, municipal markets, wholesalers, and community food outlets in high-and low-income areas in three Caribbean countries. The analysis compared foods not only by selecting high-and low-ranked commodities but by the proportions of those foods, by food group, that will be required to meet a low-cost, nutritionally balanced diet of 2 400 kcal. Results. The main finding was that low-income households will need between 22% and 47% of their earnings to obtain a healthy diet. Despite higher food prices in Saint Kitts and Nevis, low-income households there will need a smaller proportion of their income to obtain a similar basket of foods than in Jamaica or Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Conclusions. While the COVID-19 pandemic has added economic stressors to low-income households the basic vulnerability of the poor to obtain a healthy diet remains. Despite country variations, the findings point to the need for an increase in the minimum wage, particularly in Jamaica. It is essential to embed policies that ensure reduced economic and social vulnerability at the household level.
Studies at the Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute (CFNI) were conducted to provide informatio... more Studies at the Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute (CFNI) were conducted to provide information that would guide the prevention and management of major food and nutrition problems in the region. One of the Institutes mandates is to strengthen the capacity of countries to collect, analyse, interpret and use data to monitor develop, influence, strengthen or inform policy decisions, interventions and public education programmes. Over the years, numerous studies were done with countries at the individual level, however as a regional institution, the primary aim was (i) to identify the challenges and opportunities that have application across the region and (ii) to go beyond the descriptive work and elaborate the proximal and distal barriers and interventions that relate to the two major food and nutrition problems in the Caribbean -food insecurity and obesity. Central to all the research was the recognition that unless the studies are grounded in the context of poverty and inequity, the importance of the findings on food security and obesity will be consequently diminished.
The aim of this study was to determine what weaning foods and food preparation practices expose c... more The aim of this study was to determine what weaning foods and food preparation practices expose children to a high risk of diarrhoeal disease through exposure to a contaminated diet. Bacterial contamination of 897 food and 896 drinking water samples was assessed in a water and sanitation intervention project. The geometric mean of faecal coliforms per g or ml was 7-5 x 103 in left-over rice, 1-4 x 102 in other types of boiled rice, 2-5 x 102 in milk, 4-8 in household drinking water, and 3-5 in bread. Multiplication of faecal coliforms occurred when there was a delay of more than 4 h between preparation and consumption of food. All samples were more contaminated in the rainy than in the dry season. Strategies to reduce contamination should therefore focus on 'wet' foods, early consumption after preparation, and reheating of left-over foods. Understanding the reasons for the faulty practices is also essential to the formulation of effective measures.
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Dec 30, 2022
Objective: The full academic potential of tertiary students in Jamaica is diminished by their str... more Objective: The full academic potential of tertiary students in Jamaica is diminished by their struggles to secure tuition and non-tuition financial resources. Principal among student needs is the ability to consume regular healthy meals. This study among three tertiary institutions in Jamaica explored the dynamics that affect student food security and how this can harm student success. It also examined how frequently tertiary students worry about feeding themselves and the extent to which they restrict their food intake. Methods: The analysis classified students as having low, moderate and severe hunger. Nine hundred and seventy-nine students completed the surveys through a quantitative method approach to collect data from students in different disciplines. To determine the factors related to hunger several demographic, socioeconomic , living conditions and academic-related variables were examined. Results: The study found that most of the students (38.3%) suffered from severe hunger followed by moderate hunger (33%) and the lowest proportion (29.3%) with no/mild hunger. More than 70% of students worried each month about not having enough food while 33% of the students sometimes do not eat for an entire day. Their physical and emotional readiness to study was compromised as 40% said hunger affected their academic work via a variety of reasons such as headaches, poor concentration, and missed classes. Importantly, the low-achieving students experienced the most hunger. Conclusion: With data showing a strong link between food insecurity and student disengagement, the issue of hunger on campus represents a priority. The study concludes that administrators, counselors and the students themselves have critical roles to address hunger if tertiary institutions are to fully meet their educational mandate.
This study examined the role of food and water contamination in a health impact evaluation of a w... more This study examined the role of food and water contamination in a health impact evaluation of a water and sanitation intervention project. Although lower diarrhoea rates were found in the improved area no consistent difference in food and water contamination was observed between areas. Furthermore, no relationship was found between contamination and diarrhoea in either area, even after controlling for the nutritional status of children. These results imply that other vehicles of transmission might be more important than food and water in diarrhoeal transmission. The focus of interventions should therefore be on changing behaviours to improve overall hygiene.
Objective. To estimate industrially produced trans and saturated fatty acid levels in foods withi... more Objective. To estimate industrially produced trans and saturated fatty acid levels in foods within the Jamaican food system. Methods. A total of 308 commonly consumed foods were selected for analysis based on their potential to contain trans fatty acids. Samples were collected from supermarkets, convenience stores, and fast-food restaurants. Official methods of gas chromatography for the analysis of fats were used. The results were expressed as grams of fatty acid per 100 g of food sample and percentage of total fatty acids. Results. Total fat was found to exceed United Kingdom National Health Service (NHS) limits in 27.3% (n = 84/308) of food samples. About one-third (33.8%; n = 104/308) of commonly consumed foods in Jamaica contained varying levels of industrially produced trans fatty acids, while 7.8% exceeded the Pan American Health Organization limit of 2% of total fat. Industrially produced trans fatty acids were found in food categories such as canned meats, baked goods, cook...
The Caribbean is experiencing a worsening epidemic of obesity and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs)... more The Caribbean is experiencing a worsening epidemic of obesity and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and it has the worst rates of premature mortality from cardiovascular diseases in the region of the Americas. Creating enabling environments to improve dietary diversity would help reduce obesity and diet-related NCDs. The Improving Household Nutrition Security and Public Health in the CARICOM project aimed to increase dietary diversity in the Caribbean, and to determine and implement effective, gender-sensitive interventions to improve food sovereignty, household food security, and nutrition in CARICOM states. Primary quantitative and qualitative research, scoping reviews, stakeholder engagement, implementation of interventions and dissemination activities were undertaken. This paper describes the overall project design and implementation, discusses challenges and limitations, and presents core achievements to inform further work in Small Island Developing States throughout CARICOM to ...
Objective. To assess the ability of low-income families to obtain a standard basket of healthy fo... more Objective. To assess the ability of low-income families to obtain a standard basket of healthy foods before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods. The costs of 191 food items were averaged from supermarkets, municipal markets, wholesalers, and community food outlets in high- and low-income areas in three Caribbean countries. The analysis compared foods not only by selecting high- and low-ranked commodities but by the proportions of those foods, by food group, that will be required to meet a low-cost, nutritionally balanced diet of 2 400 kcal. Results. The main finding was that low-income households will need between 22% and 47% of their earnings to obtain a healthy diet. Despite higher food prices in Saint Kitts and Nevis, low-income households there will need a smaller proportion of their income to obtain a similar basket of foods than in Jamaica or Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Conclusions. While the COVID-19 pandemic has added economic stressors to low-income households t...
Objectives. To determine changes to income and livelihood, food consumption, and hunger due to co... more Objectives. To determine changes to income and livelihood, food consumption, and hunger due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in three Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Caribbean: Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Vincent and the Grenadines. Methods. This was a cross-sectional study conducted in July 2020. Participants were selected using telephone directories and lists of mobile numbers. Data were collected through face-to-face and telephone interviews. Participants rated the impact of COVID-19 on their livelihoods and the Adult Food Security Module was used to assess hunger. To examine how these outcomes varied by sociodemographic group, multivariable logistic regression analysis was used, with odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) reported. Results. The analysis included 880 participants. Of these, 40% (344/871) reported some form of hunger, with 18% (153/871) classed as moderate-to-severe hunger. Almost three quarters of households reported some im...
The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the globe and remains a threat to the food and nutrition securit... more The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the globe and remains a threat to the food and nutrition security of vulnerable communities due to the disruptions of the food system. This study assessed the impact of COVID-19 on food and nutrition security at the household level in eight Caribbean countries. The findings revealed that 16% of households reported that their diet was suboptimal during the crisis; among the households severely affected, rice and egg consumption increased whereas the utilization of meats, fish, chicken, vegetables, and fruit intake declined; 40% of households experienced some form of hunger and 42% of them reported that they were moderately to severely affected. As countries aim to recover and regain stability, households remain at risk and the situation on the ground may worsen and therefore the findings of this study may be modest. As such, food security should be an integral part of the policy framework to address immediate needs and the imperatives for long-term resilience.
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Papers by Fitzroy Henry