Reducing Health Disparities and Improving Health Equity in Saint Lucia

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Caribbean Health
• Chronic Disease Management

Background:

• St. Lucia faces significant chronic health issues, including hypertension and diabetes, impacting its population of 179,000.
• Socioeconomic status is recognized as a key determinant of health outcomes in the region.
• Existing healthcare infrastructures require improvement to address the growing burden of chronic diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a replicable model for community health education, disease tracking, and monitoring in St. Lucia.
• To inform research training and policy interventions for chronic conditions applicable to Caribbean populations.
• To assess patient and provider perspectives on health status, services, and health equity.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-method analytic approach was employed in phase one of the study.
• 157 adult patients at risk for or diagnosed with diabetes and 42 healthcare providers/administrators were recruited.
• Data was collected from five healthcare facilities in St. Lucia.

Main Results:

• Patients and providers confirmed the high prevalence of diabetes and other chronic illnesses.
• There is a shared understanding of socioeconomic factors influencing health.
• Participants expressed a strong desire for enhanced healthcare access and infrastructure.

Conclusions:

• Preliminary findings support the development of targeted community education and workforce development strategies.
• Interventions can improve health outcomes for St. Lucians with chronic conditions.
• The model has potential applicability to other Caribbean populations and similar settings.