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The burdens associated with acute gastroenteritis involve billions of dollars in expenses, coupled with significant morbidity and mortality globally. To reduce these burdens, health officials and policymakers require up-to-date data (health and economic) to request and allocate resources in guiding the development and implementation of preventative strategies. In 2021, the estimate for one case of acute gastroenteritis was calculated using multiple sources of data: the 2009 national health burden survey on acute gastroenteritis; a 2021 telephone survey of five major private hospitals; a 2021 telephone survey of 30 private pharmacies; and the 2021 Minimum Wages Act of Trinidad and Tobago. For each case of illness, an average cost of $1614 TTD ($238 USD) was estimated. For residents who sought private health care, the average GP visit cost was $500–$700 TTD ($73–$103 USD), while costs for medication prescribed ranged between $327 and $1166 TTD ($48–$172 USD). Productivity losses amounted to almost $21.7 million TTD ($3.2 million USD) for residents who took time off from work or required caregiving services. The overall annual cost was estimated to be $204 million TTD ($30.1 million USD) and, therefore, warrants measures by health officials to reduce the economic and social burdens of acute gastroenteritis in Trinidad and Tobago.

In 2009, the burden of illness study for acute gastroenteritis in Trinidad and Tobago highlighted that ~10% of stool samples tested were positive for a foodborne pathogen. The study also noted that limited laboratory screening for pathogens contributed to a lack of etiology as public health hospitals only routinely tested for Salmonella and Shigella, and sometimes for Escherichia coli and Campylobacter. To better understand the foodborne pathogens responsible for acute gastroenteritis, enhanced testing using the BioFire® FilmArray® Gastrointestinal PCR panel was used to screen diarrheal stool samples for 22 pathogens from patients in 2018. The five general public health hospitals (San Fernando, Mt. Hope, Port of Spain, Sangre Grande, and Tobago) were notified of research activities and diarrheal stool samples were collected from all acute gastroenteritis patients. A total of 66 stools were screened and ~30% of samples tested positive for a foodborne pathogen. The current study showed that a much wider range of enteric pathogens were associated with acute gastroenteritis in Trinidad and Tobago than previously reported in 2009. These findings can be used by health officials to guide appropriate interventions, as well as to provide evidence for adoption of the PCR panel detection method at public health hospitals to benefit patient care.

Purpose - There is unprecedented interest by consumers to improve health and wellness through dietary means. This first study conducted in Trinidad, West Indies, aims to examine the exercise enthusiasts' perceptions, choices, reasons and beliefs of functional foods. Design/methodology/approach - A structured questionnaire was administered to 120 randomly chosen exercise/fitness enthusiasts at six gyms located in East and Central regions. Findings - Only 50.5 per cent had heard of at least one term either "functional" or "nutraceutical" or "designer" foods with the most familiar term (34.3 per cent; p<0.05) being "functional". Frequency of exercise (p<0.01) and age (p<0.05) were influential factors affecting familiarity to functional term. Tomatoes (89.5 per cent) and cabbages (83.2 per cent) were popular vegetable choices. Energy giving was selected as most (71.6 per cent; p<0.05) important health claim. The perceived benefit of functional foods was more for performance enhancement rather than for health. Functional foods were considered expensive (47.4 per cent), prevented disease (46.3 per cent), necessary for older people (37.9 per cent) and were different from others. On comparing the respondent's agreement of manufacturer's health claims of functional foods with their own beliefs, 39.0 per cent "agreed/strongly agreed" that the manufacturers exaggerated their health claims. Gender did not (p>0.05) influence responses. Originality/value - Although, limited in sample size, the reasons given for consumption of functional foods and the chosen foods could guide marketers and food product developers. The study highlighted the need for public education on the health benefits and regulatory measures on functional foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]