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Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and STI treatment remain a challenge in public health. There is little understanding of related factors influencing health seeking behaviour and delay of care among clinic attendees in Jamaica. Aim: To determine socio-demographic profile of clinic attendees with STI and identify factors associated with delay in seeking care for STI-related symptoms. Methods: A cross-sectional study was done. 201 adult patients presenting with STI symptoms from four health centres in Kingston and St Andrew were selected. A 24-item interviewer-assisted questionnaire was used to obtain data on socio-demographic characteristics, patients' symptoms and duration, previous STIs, knowledge of complications and seriousness of STIs, and factors influencing decision to seek medical care. Results: Almost 75% delayed seeking care for STIs. Recurrent STIs was identified in 41% of patients. 'Could not find time' was the most commonly reported reason for delay in seeking care (36%). Females were 3.4 times more likely to delay seeking care for STI symptoms than males (OR 3.42, 95% CI: 1.73–6.73). Those with primary level education and below were 5 times more likely to delay seeking care for STI symptoms than those with at least secondary level education (OR 5.05, 95% CI: 1.09–23.46). Participants viewed staff as confidential (68%) and 65% thought health-care workers spent adequate time during consultations. Conclusion: Lower education level and the female gender are associated with delay in seeking care for STI-related symptoms. These factors should be considered when developing interventions to reduce delay in care for STI-related symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study sought to examine the internal consistency reliability and underlying factor structure of the Agency of Health Research on Quality Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (AHRQ HSOPSC) in two large acute care hospitals in a developing country setting (Jamaica). A cross-sectional study was done among 328 doctors and nurses. Reliability (internal consistency) analysis was done for each of the 12 composites and the Cronbach's Alpha coefficients were reported. Principal axis factor analysis (PA) using Varimax rotation was done to identify the underlying factor structure. The Cronbach's Alpha coefficient was ≥ 0.60 in ten composites. 'Overall perception of patient safety' and 'staffing' had Cronbach's Alpha values of 0.585 and 0.553 respectively. A ten-factor solution (34 items) with factor loading of ≥ 0.40 is the best model fit, and composites are now named 'handoff and transitions/information exchange,' 'communication/feedback,' 'frequency of events reported,' 'management support for patient safety,' 'teamwork in unit,' 'non-punitive response to errors,' 'overall perception of patient safety,' 'supervision/management expectations and actions promoting patient safety,' 'organizational learning - continuous improvement' and 'staffing'. The AHRQ HSOPSC is generally reliable in this developing country setting and the ten-factor structure is consistent with suggested modifications for the emergent AHRQ HSOPSC Version 2 tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Income and employment are recognised as social determinants of health. Occupationally related exposures and working conditions impact health behaviours. Taxi drivers have been recognised as an occupationally COVID‐19 at‐risk group. COVID‐19 threatens their lives and livelihoods. This study describes self‐reported income changes attributed to the COVID‐19 pandemic among taxi drivers. Associations between percentage change in income and reported prevention practices were ascertained. In May 2020, a cross‐sectional study was done among 282 taxi drivers in the Kingston and St. Andrew Metropolitan Area in Jamaica. Multi‐stage sampling was used to select taxi driver from seven hubs. Data collection utilised a 28‐item questionnaire. Self‐reported income before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic was ascertained and correlations between relative changes in income and COVID‐19 prevention practices were assessed. The median pre‐COVID‐19 monthly income was USD 1,428.57 (IQR = 1,467.26), about USD 51/day. Median monthly income since the COVID‐19 outbreak was USD 500 (IQR = 472.37), about USD 18/day, representing a 65% reduction in income. There was a statistically significant association between the relative change in income and the practice of wearing mask while transporting passengers. Generally, as the relative change (decline) in income increased, reported compliance with mask wearing decreased (Spearman's rho = −0.15, p = 0.02). Taxi drivers have experienced marked decline in income due to the COVID‐19 pandemic, with implications for health practices and the maintenance of desired health behaviours. Authorities should be cognisant of the economic impact and COVID‐related consequences in the taxi industry, as they seek to develop COVID‐19 occupationally related prevention and control programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]