This paper provides statistics and insights pertaining to tooth loss, denture use and dental care utilization among older persons by age, gender, union, residence, education, chronic illness and health insurance status and reports independent predictors of dental service use and tooth loss and associated odds ratios. It is the first of its kind with findings and statistics emerging from a large nationally representative sample of 2943 persons.

This paper describes the sociodemographic and health characteristics of a nationally-representative sample of caregivers to older persons in Jamaica, the context in which they provide care and challenges to caregiving.

This study assesses hypertension prevalence, treatment and levels of control among community-dwelling older adults in Jamaica. The prevalence of hypertension was 61.7%, with the majority (90.0%) of older adults being on treatment and 34.8% were controlled.

This study sought to determine the practices of family physicians/general practitioners in Kingston and St Andrew regarding the management of adult obesity and compare their management to the 2013 AHA/ACC/TOS Guidelines for the Management of overweight and obesity in adults.

This study sought to determine the practices of family physicians/general practitioners in Kingston and St Andrew regarding the management of adult obesity and compare their management to the 2013 AHA/ACC/TOS Guidelines for the Management of overweight and obesity in adults.

This paper described the prevalence of dementia in the ageing Jamaican population. There are service and policy implications given the increasing importance of providing health and social services for persons with dementia.

Glioblastoma multiforme is the most malignant and the most common primary brain tumour worldwide. This initial study was undertaken in order to investigate the demographics of this very malignant tumour in our population using data from the recently started Intracranial Tumour Registry at the University Hospital of the West Indies.

The aim of this study was to determine the association between health insurance/health benefit and medication adherence amongst adult diabetic patients in Kingston, Jamaica. In this cross-sectional study, the target population was diabetics who attended the diabetic outpatient clinics in health centres in Kingston. Two health centres were selectively chosen in Kingston. All diabetic patients attending the diabetic clinics and over the age of 18 were conveniently sampled. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was utilized. Health insurance/health benefit was assessed by this questionnaire. Adherence was measured by patients’ self reports of medication usage in the previous week. The Chi-squared was used to determine significance of associations. The sample population was 76% female and 24% male. Type 2 diabetics comprised 93.8%. More than 95% of patients were over the age of 40. Approximately 32% of participants were employed. Approximately 75% of patients had health insurance/health benefit. Among those who had health insurance or health benefit, 71.5% was adherent and 28.5% was non-adherent. This difference was statistically significant (χ2=6.553, p = 0.01). Prevalence of medication non-adherence was 33%.In Kingston, diabetic patients who are adherent are more likely to have health insurance/health benefit (p = 0.01).

The prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) including diabetes and hypertension in the older Jamaican population has significantly increased over the last 20 years. Immediate, short-term activities that target the individual are necessary if NCDs are to be prevented and/or be properly controlled.

This paper discusses Jamaica’s current census (2011) and the changes in the over 60-year old population since the 2001 census and the implications for healthcare. Emphasis is placed on chronic disease reduction and improved quality of life for older persons.