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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]

Internship programmes have the potential to provide learning and professional experiences, build students' competency and strengthen partnerships between community and training institutions. In this paper, we examine the extent to which a structured internship at The University of the West Indies contributed to experience and competency-building, provided focus and met learners' expectations and satisfaction among a cohort of unpaid health promotion interns. The contribution of placements to the strengthening of health education and promotion competencies and interns' feelings about their experiences are included. Twenty-four (24) internship reports were reviewed using a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods. The majority of interns were Jamaicans (70.8%), 12.5% were from Dominica and the remaining 16.7% represented other nationalities. Health professionals comprised the highest percentage of cohorts (79.2%) and governmental agencies comprised the largest proportion (63%) of internship sites. Activities undertaken were in the areas of planning, implementing and evaluating programmes (71%) and conducting needs assessments (63%). Communication-related activities were reported by 43% of interns. Twenty-one per cent were engaged in lobbying and collaboration with other partners, while 23% established committees to oversee the sustainability of initiatives. While some interns reported negative experiences with supervision at their placement agencies, all valued internship seminars, which they found as a supportive environment in which they were able to share their progress with peers and academics. The opportunity for applying theory to practice and acting as resource persons were reflected as positives. The structured internship approach seems to have merits for building competence and engendering individual satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]