High prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths in Southern Belize-highlighting opportunity for control interventions

Objective:To assess prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminths(STH) in school age children of two southern districts as baseline information prior to implement a deworming program against intestinal parasites as part of an integrated country development plan.Methods:Children randomly selected from urban and rural schools in Southern Belize provided one stool sample each,analysed by the Kato-Katz method to assess prevalence and intensity of STH infections.Epi Info software was used for data analysis;Chi-square test and Fischer exact test were applied to compare group proportions;P<0.05 was considered of statistical significance;descriptive statistics were expressed as percentages.Results:A total of 500 children from 10 schools participated in the study from May to December2005.Prevalence of STH ranged between 40%and 82%among schools,with a median of 59.2%;the majority of light intensity,and with 2.2%high intensity infection.Trichuris and Axaris infections presented similar frequency in children aged from 6 to 9 years old;hookworm infections tended to be more frequent in the older group 10 to 12 years old.Statistical significances(P≤0.01)were found in children in rural schools infected with any species of STH,in moderate Trichuris infections,in hookworm infections in rural areas with strong Mayan presence and in Ascaris infections in children of Mayan origin.Conclusions:High prevalence of STH in Southern Belize provided sound ground for implementing an integrated deworming control program.

Multiple partnerships and risk for HIV among the Garífuna minority population in Belize

Belize has the highest rates of HIV infection in Central America and is experiencing a generalized epidemic. The Garífuna, a minority ethnic population, is at risk for HIV. This study uses survey data from Garífuna men and women to examine the frequency of multiple partnerships as well as sociodemographic characteristics and behavioral constructs correlated with having multiple partners. A high proportion of respondents reported having multiple partners, but rates were significantly higher for men, and men had a higher mean number of partners than women. A high proportion of respondents reported having a sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the last year, with more men reporting a history of STIs than women. Regression results show the importance of improving men and women’s perceived susceptibility for HIV and encouraging them to know their HIV status. Reinforcing a social norm for partner reduction would also benefit men. Study findings support the need for HIV counseling and testing in Garífuna communities as well as STI prevention, diagnosis and treatment. This study demonstrates that reducing multiple partnerships among Garífuna men and women is critical for reducing the spread of HIV in Belize.

Coral Reef Populations in the Caribbean: Is There a Case for Better Protection against Climate Change?

Knowledge of factors that are important in coral reef growth help us to understand how reef ecosystems react following major environmental disturbances due to climate change and other anthropogenic effects. This study shows that despite a range of anthropogenic stressors, corals on the fringing reefs south of Kingston harbour, as well as corals on fringing reefs on the north coast of Jamaica near Discovery Bay can survive and grow. Skewness values for Sidastrea siderea and Porites astreoides were positive (0.85 -?1.64) for all sites, implying more small colonies than large colonies. Coral growth rates are part of a demographic approach to monitoring coral reef health in times of climate change, and linear extension rates (mm.yr-1) of Acropora palmata branching corals at Dairy Bull, Rio Bueno, and Pear Tree Bottom on the north coast of Jamaica were c. 50 -?90 mm.year-1 from 2005-2012. The range of small-scale rugosities at the Port Royal cay sites studied was lower than that at the Discovery Bay sites;for example Rio Bueno was 1.05 ± 0.15 and Dairy Bull the most rugose at 2.3 ± 0.16. Diary Bull reef has for several years been the fringing reef with the most coral cover, with a benthic community similar to that of the 1970s. We discuss whether Jamaica can learn from methods used in other Caribbean countries to better protect its coral reefs against climate change. Establishing and maintaining fully-protected marine parks in Jamaica and elsewhere in the Caribbean is one tool to help the future of the fishing industry in developing countries. Developing MPAs as part of an overall climate change policy for a country may be the best way of integrating climate change into MPA planning, management, and evaluation.