State of Health Study
An exciting and innovative Partnership has been formed in the Federation to assess and impact on the health of women in our workforce. A multi-agency approach involving the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Consumer Affairs, the International University of Nursing, the Manufacturing Division, the Ministry of Health, the Department of Gender Affairs, and the Centre for Prevention and Wellness Baptist Health – South Florida, has been developed to identify and address potential health issues of women who work in the industrial sector.

In keeping with CARICOM’s expressed decision to target non-communicable diseases, this study sets out to help empower women in the industrial sector to reduce their risks of heart attack, stroke and diabetes. Cardiac disease is the number one health issue in the Federation and the wider Caribbean, after HIV, with approximately 1,000 women suffering with high blood pressure and diabetes in St Kitts alone.

All women in the industrial sector of Basseterre were eligible to participate in the health risk appraisal (WHO STEPwise Chronic Disease Risk Factor Surveillance), but 653 women were recruited from the five main employers of women at the industrial complex, to participate in the year-long study.

The blind study includes an in-depth questionnaire about current health and health history, nutrition, and attitude to change, and will work with participants during the next nine months, encouraging them to make significant changes in their lifestyle, which should result in improvements to their health.

Dr Catherine Garner, the Provost Dean and Chief Academic/Operational Director of the University of Nursing, elaborated on the benefits that the study will provide. As well as physically monitoring individuals bi-weekly, there are monthly educative targets where participants are encouraged to change one old pattern for a new, healthier one each month. For example; the first month’s topic was prevention of heart disease. Participants were asked to consider their risk factors for heart disease and were encouraged to discuss their knowledge and perception of their risk; they were also encouraged to consider the role of water in their diet and to increase their consumption of water to 6 to 8, 12 oz bottles per day. A new topic is introduced each month, with a new activity and goal. This enables  gradual lifestyle change in manageable ways, introducing small, but significant changes of benefit to the participants and their families.

Other topics for discussion include hypertension, diabetes and blood sugar, stress and heart disease, planning a heart healthy menu, and eating on a limited budget. Along with personal goal setting, favourite healthy recipes, cooking classes, portion control, and maintaining healthy eating habits during the holidays, there is a packed programme for participants throughout the duration of the project. The study will be concluded with an awards ceremony to recognise the efforts of the women to change their lifestyle and improve their health.

The project also benefits the students of the University, as they will be gaining first hand experience of community involvement. The project ties in to the curriculum and has created demand for their developing skills. Covering disciplines such as nutrition, statistics, research and women’s health, the study adds to their current community involvement of providing pre-natal services in some areas of the Federation.

This study is a good pilot which lends itself to being replicated throughout the region and could be integrated into CARICOM’s objectives to improve the health of the Caribbean in the area of non-communicable diseases.

Kittivisian Life will follow the progress of the study and will share some of the recipes for you to try at home. 

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