Self-reported non-communicable chronic diseases and health-seeking behaviour in rural Jamaica, following a health promotion intervention: a preliminary report

Abstract The objectives were to assess the prevalence of self-reported non-communicable chronic diseases and ascertain factors associated with a health-seeking behaviour (blood pressure screening) following an intervention aimed at improving health-seeking behaviours. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 2093 participants aged 15–75 years in Manchester, Jamaica. The first 1660 (males, 820; females, 840) subjects are included. Hypertension was reported by 14.4% of males and 27.4% of females followed by diabetes (males 4.1%, females 7.0%) and heart disease (males 2.1%, females 3.8%). In multivariate analyses, recent blood pressure screening was explained by the presence of diabetes (males, OR 7.56, CI 2.14, 26.6; females, OR 4.82, CI 1.69, 13.78), and increasing age, (males OR 2.19, CI 1.76, 2.70; females OR 1.55, CI 1.32, 1.83). Among men, higher education (OR 1.74, CI 1.18, 2.55), and use of the mobile clinic, (a component of the intervention, OR 3.80, CI 1.92, 7.51) increased likelihood of screening while smoking (OR 0.48, CI 0.33, 0.69) and alcohol consumption (OR 0.56, CI 0.39, 0.81) were inversely related. Among women, intervention-related variables (use of Wellness Clinic OR 1.81, CI 1.12, 2.93; heard of mobile clinic, OR 1.60, CI 1.12, 2.27) increased likelihood of screening. Socio-demographic and behavioural factors were determinants of health-seeking behaviour. In addition, the intervention facilitated health-seeking behaviour of recent blood pressure screening.