Policy initiatives, culture and the prevention and control of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the Caribbean

Datos Bibliográficos

ID15073698
AutoresT Alafia Samuels (0000-0001-6047-189X, University of the West Indies System, autor de correspondencia), Cornelia Guell (0000-0003-0105-410X, University of the West Indies System), Branka Legetić (World Health Organization Regional Office for the Americas), Nigel Unwin (0000-0002-1368-1648, University of the West Indies System)
Año2012
Volumen17
Número6
Páginas631-649
Fecha de publicación2012-12-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaEthnicity and Health (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1355-7858 • E-ISSN: 1465-3419
EditorialInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/13557858.2012.752072
PMID23249261
OpenAlexW2045957456
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas8
Referencias citadas18

OBJECTIVE: To explore interactions between disease burden, culture and the policy response to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) within the Caribbean, a region with some of the highest prevalence rates, morbidity and mortality from NCDs in the Americas. METHODS: We undertook a wide ranging narrative review, drawing on a variety of peer reviewed, government and intergovernmental literature. RESULTS: Although the Caribbean is highly diverse, linguistically and ethnically, it is possible to show how 'culture' at the macro-level has been shaped by shared historic, economic and political experiences and ties. We suggest four broad groupings of countries: the English-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM); the small island states that are still colonies or departments of colonial powers; three large-Spanish speaking countries; and Haiti, which although part of CARICOM is culturally distinct. We explore how NCD health policies in the region stem from and are influenced by the broad characteristics of these groupings, albeit played out in varied ways in individual countries. For example, the Port of Spain declaration (2007) on NCDs can be understood as the product of the co-operative and collaborative relationships with CARICOM, which are based on a shared broad culture. We note, however, that studies investigating the relationships between the formation of NCD policy and culture (at any level) are scarce. CONCLUSION: Within the Caribbean region it is possible to discern relationships between culture at the macro-level and the formation of NCD policy. However, there is little work that directly assesses the interactions between culture and NCD policy formation. The Caribbean with its cultural diversity and high burden of NCDs provides an ideal environment within which to undertake further studies to better understand the interactions between culture and health policy formation

Colonialism · Declaration · Development economics · Economic growth · Geography · Narrative · Political science · Politics · Global Public Health Policies and Epidemiology · Law · Nutrition, Health, and Society Studies · Public Health and Social Inequalities