Table 1.
Weighted descriptive statistics and 95% CI by sex: Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey 2008
| Variable | Total (n=2544) | Men (n=797) | Women (n=1747) | Youth (n=107) | Adults (n=2437) |
| Mean age (years) | 35.23 (15.95 to 36.95) | 34.89 (34.32 to 35.47) | 35.37 (34.94 to 36.95) | 16.09 (15.95 to 16.23) | 36.60 (36.24 to 36.95)** |
| Education (%) | |||||
| <High school | 28.43 (26.61 to 30.26) | 31.44 (28.24 to 36.35) | 27.16 (24.95 to 29.37)* | 91.49 (86.38 to 96.61) | 29.90 (27.99 to 31.81)** |
| > High school | 71.56 (69.73 to 73.38) | 68.55 (65.34 to 71.75) | 72.84 (70.62 to 75.04) | 8.51 (3.39 to 13.62) | 70.09 (68.19 to 72.00) |
| Current smoker (%) | 25.48 (23.72 to 27.24) | 13.09 (11.96 to 14.23) | 12.39 (10.96 to 13.89) | 19.50 (10.78 to 28.17) | 25.92 (24.15 to 27.69)* |
| Mean no of possessions | 9.34 (9.10 to 9.97) | 9.69 (9.42 to 9.97) | 9.19 (9.10 to 9.38) | 9.26 (9.10 to 9.86) | 9.28 (9.12 to 9.44) |
| Hypertension (%) | 23.53 (22.01, 25.05) | 22.88 (20.15, 25.61) | 23.80 (21.97, 25.64) | 4.67 (1.00, 8.36) | 24.90 (23.30, 26.51)** |
| Diabetes (%) | 7.44 (6.56, 8.31) | 5.46 (4.15, 6.76) | 8.28 (7.16, 9.40)** | 0.76 (0.00, 2.27) | 7.92 (6.99, 8.86)** |
| Mean SBP (mm Hg) | 121.53 (119.72 to 124.79) | 123.75 (122.72 to 124.79) | 120.57 (119.72 to 121.44)* | 112.82 (110.28 to 115.42) | 122.14 (121.43 to 122.86)** |
| Mean DBP (mm Hg) | 77.03 (75.84 to 79.19) | 78.33 (77.47 to 79.19) | 76.47 (75.84 to 77.11)* | 70.49 (68.78 to 72.21) | 77.49 (76.95 to 78.02)* |
| Mean WC (cm) | 86.74 (86.13 to 87.35) | 82.14 (81.27 to 83.00) | 88.69 (87.92 to 89.48)* | 74.77 (72.96 to 76.58) | 87.61 (86.97 to 88.23)** |
| Mean TC (mg/dL | 4.40 (4.38 to 4.43) | 4.25 (4.21 to 4.28) | 4.47 (4.44 to 4.50)* | 4.14 (4.06 to 4.21) | 4.42 (4.39 to 4.45)* |
| Mean FBG (mM/L) | 4.10 (4.02 to 4.18) | 4.12 (3.97 to 4.28) | 4.09 (4.01 to 4.18) | 3.47 (3.29 to 3.66) | 4.15 (4.07 to 4.23)* |
| Mean BMI | 27.25 (26.99 to 27.52) | 24.50 (24.09 to 24.87) | 28.50 (28.10 to 28.80)* | 23.19 (22.23 to 24.13) | 27.54 (27.27 to 28.81)** |
| Self-reported asthma (%) | 7.42 (3.82 to 9.54) | 5.52 (3.82 to 7.17) | 8.23 (6.93 to 9.54) | 8.01 (4.72 to 8.46) | 7.24 (6.18 to 8.29) |
| Mean CBR score | 2.18 (2.12 to 2.24) | 1.68 (1.58 to 1.79) | 2.38 (2.31 to 2.46)** | 1.06 (0.84 to 1.26) | 2.26 (2.19 to 2.32)** |
| Mean Neighbourhood Disorder Score† | 11.71 (11.52 to 11.89) | 11.35 (11.04 to 11.66) | 11.85 (11.62 to 12.08) | 12.33 (11.58 to 13.07) | 11.66 (11.47 to 11.85) |
| Recreational space availability (%)† | 59.04 (56.89 to 61.79) | 59.67 (55.18 to 64.14) | 58.78 (55.35 to 62.20) | 55.56 (44.09 to 66.99) | 59.28 (56.50 to 62.06) |
Neighbourhood Disorder Score: This comprises a composite score of the interviewers’ perception of the condition of homes, streets and yards, amount of noise and air quality of neighbourhoods. Scores for each variable ranged from 1(excellent) to 4 (poor) and the overall index from 1 to 20, with a higher score indicating greater neighbourhood disorder.
Recreational Space Availability: This was based on the interviewer’s perception of a) the presence of and b) walking distance to either recreational spaces, playing fields or other open spaces from a participant’s home. Scores assigned were 0 (no) and 1 (yes), with a total possible maximum score of 2.
*p<0.05 and ** p<0.01, for comparisons between men and women and between youth and adults. Youth defined as <18 years.
†Based on the participant’s enumeration district (ED), with a total of 113 EDs in the study.
BMI, body mass index; CBR, cumulative biological risk; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; FBG, fasting blood glucose; SBP, systolic blood pressure; TC, total cholesterol; WC, waist circumference.