Sources used in this document:

References

Anderson, M., & Tulloch-Reid, M. K. (2019). “How am I gonna cope?”: Caregivers ofadolescents with diabetes in Jamaica. Chronic Illness, 15(4), 293-305.

Cunningham?Myrie, C., Younger?Coleman, N., Tulloch?Reid, M., McFarlane, S.,Francis, D., Ferguson, T., ... & Wilks, R. (2013). Diabetes mellitus in Jamaica: sex differences in burden, risk factors, awareness, treatment and control in a developing country. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 18(11), 1365-1378.

Crawford, T. V., McGrowder, D. A., Barnett, J. D., McGaw, B. A., McKenzie, I. F., &James, L. G. (2012). Tobacco-related chronic illnesses: a public health concern for Jamaica. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention, 13(9), 4733-4738.

Davis, B. (2008). Defeating Diabetes: Lessons from the Marshall Islands. Today’sDietitian, 10(8), 24.

Davis, G. (2018). NCDS Leading Cause of Death in Jamaica. Retrieved from https://jis.gov.jm/ncds-leading-cause-of-death-in-jamaica/

Ferguson, T. S., Francis, D. K., Tulloch-Reid, M. K., Younger, N. O. M., McFarlane, S.

R., & Wilks, R. J. (2011). An Update on the Burden of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Jamaica. West Indian Med J, 60(4), 422.

NGO LetterCreating Space for LifeMary Phillips, Executive Director5555 Fifty-first StreetPlain City, NJ 01012Dear Creating Space for Life,I am writing to introduce myself and to request your assistance in addressing diabetes in Jamaica. I am a concerned citizen and nursing student who has seen, firsthand, the negative effects that diabetes can have on individuals and families.

Diabetes is a serious issue in Jamaica. According to the most recent data, diabetes affects approximately 11.1% of the Jamaican population (World Bank Development Indicators, 2022). This number is expected to rise in the coming years, due to factors such as rising obesity rates and lack of parks and investment to support outdoors activity, play and exercise (Cunningham-Myrie et al., 2013). Diabetes can lead to a number of health complications, including heart disease, kidney failure, and blindness. In addition, diabetes is a leading cause of death in Jamaica.

Part of the big problem leading to the high prevalence of diabetes in Jamaica is the lack of health literacy on the topic and the lack of safe access to parks where people can recreate. Poverty and poor access to quality food items are other reasons: people there have gotten away from organic, healthy dieting, which is the cornerstone of health (Davis, 2008).

I am writing because I believe that through the promotion of healthy dieting and exercise, we can begin to address this problem in a meaningful way. Regular exercise and a healthy diet are important for everyone, but they are especially important for people with diabetes (Davis, 2008). Exercise and a healthy diet can help to control blood sugar levels and prevent these complications.

Your organization has a proven track record of success in addressing diabetes in other countries, and I believe that you can help Jamaica make progress on this issue there as well. I would be interested in discussing how you could provide support and/or sponsor a program to prevent and reduce diabetes in Jamaica.

I am also aware that Creating Space for Life has previously provided funding for a chronic disease prevention project. I would like to request specific support and/or sponsorship to address diabetes in Jamaica. The funds will be used to promote healthy dieting and exercise through public service announcements, school programs, and community events. I believe that this is a worthwhile cause and that your organization’s mission is connected to the described project. Additionally, I believe that your financial assistance will support the plan designed to address diabetes in Jamaica.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,ReferencesCunningham?Myrie, C., Younger?Coleman, N., Tulloch?Reid, M., McFarlane, S.,Francis, D., Ferguson, T., ... & Wilks, R. (2013). Diabetes mellitus in Jamaica: sex differences in burden, risk factors, awareness, treatment and control in a developing country. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 18(11), 1365-1378.

Davis, B. (2008). Defeating Diabetes: Lessons from the Marshall Islands. Today’sDietitian, 10(8), 24.

World Bank Development Indicators. (2022). Jamaica—Diabetes prevalence. Retrieved from https://tradingeconomics.com/jamaica/diabetes-prevalence-percent-of-population-ages-20-to-79-wb-data.html#:~:text=Jamaica%20-%20Diabetes%20Prevalence%20%28%25%20Of%20Population%20Ages,of%20development%20indicators%2C%20compiled%20from%20officially%20recognized%20sources.

Annotated BibliographyAnderson, M., & Tulloch-Reid, M. K. (2019). “How am I gonna cope?”: Caregivers ofadolescents with diabetes in Jamaica. Chronic Illness, 15(4), 293-305.

This is a qualitative study that used focus groups to obtain a deeper and better understanding of the challenges of caring for someone with diabetes. As the researchers explain, challenges included keeping children healthy, managing conflict, and making good financial considerations in response to the medical needs of the patients. A big need was for assistance with diabetes education, support, and medical supplies.

The qualitative study was helpful in showing from a personal point of view how difficult it can be to manage diabetes when it is in the family. It is well-known that in order to effectively manage diabetes, it is important to monitor blood sugar levels, eat a healthy diet, and exercise regularly. Yet this study showed that people still need support, supplies, and training in managing emotions.

I would say that this study is very helpful in understanding the everyday reality of dealing with diabetes. It provides an up-close and personal perspective that quantitative studies simply cannot give. I would include this study for that reason into my research on this topic to show why intervention and support is needed for Jamaican families with regard to this issue.

Barrett-Brown, P., McGrowder, D., & Ragoobirsingh, D. (2021). Diabetes education—Cornerstone in management of diabetes mellitus in Jamaica. AIMS Medical Science, 8(3), 189-202.

This study shows how teaching about diabetes is really the most important step in managing the disease. The researchers supply good evidence for why learning about the symptoms and early warning signs of diabetes complications can help people in Jamaica catch problems early, prevent risk, and get the treatment they need to reduce the potential serious health problems.

The study is well-founded on logic, evidence, and evidence-based practice. There is plenty of literature provided to support the framework of the researchers. The fact that the study is a cross-sectional study and uses statistical analysis helps to cement its case: there needs to be a combination of knowledge and willingness to comply with recommendations—and in many cases it was the compliance that was missing.

In order to improve compliance in Jamaican populations, health care providers need to be able to motivate patients, and that is something they can do through health literacy—but they also need to address some of the concerns described by Cunningham-Myrie et al. (2013) and Davis (2008), because as Barrett-Brown et al. (2021) point out in this study, it is not all just about knowledge, for there are also compliance factors that need to be taken into consideration.

Cunningham?Myrie, C., Younger?Coleman, N., Tulloch?Reid, M., McFarlane, S.,Francis, D., Ferguson, T., ... & Wilks, R. (2013). Diabetes mellitus in Jamaica: sex differences in burden, risk factors, awareness, treatment and control in a developing country. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 18(11), 1365-1378.

This article explains how “neighborhood disorder, perceived neighborhood safety” can affect the onset of diabetes (p. 970). The researchers show that there is a relationship between neighborhoods where there is a high rate of diabetes and poor safety preventing people from exercising outdoors. The sample consisted of 2848 participants from Jamaican neighborhoods. The researchers analyzed data “based on aggregate interviewer responses to systematic social observation questions” (p. 970).

This was a strong study that showed how important it is to have safe neighborhoods and how unsafe neighborhoods can affect health and lead to problems like diabetes. It is well-documented in this study that living in an unsafe neighborhood can have a negative impact on health. Literature is cited showing that residents of unsafe neighborhoods are more likely to suffer from chronic stress, which can lead to a host of health problems including heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. In addition, unsafe neighborhoods tend to have fewer resources like grocery stores and parks, which can make it difficult for residents to lead healthy lifestyles.

It appears true that living in an unsafe neighborhood can increase the likelihood of being a victim of violence, which can lead to physical and emotional trauma. This would be a good source of information for my research paper, and I will probably use it along with the study by Davis (2008) to support the intervention.

Davis, B. (2008). Defeating Diabetes: Lessons from the Marshall Islands. Today’sDietitian, 10(8), 24.

This article explains how the researcher found a population in the Marshall Islands that had developed diabetes after moving way from its traditional diet of fish and rice. The people had begun eating Westernized foods imported to the island and often pre-packaged and not organic. The researcher began a program to get the natives back onto their traditional diet, which also made them exercise more. In the end, the incidence of diabetes completely disappeared as a result of the intervention.

While the argument presented in the article is compelling, it is important to consider its limitations. First, the study is based on observational data, which can be subject to bias. Second, it is possible that other factors, such as stress or pollution, may also contribute to the development of diabetes. Finally, it is worth noting that the article does not address the potential role of medications or surgery in the treatment of diabetes. However, taken together, these findings suggest that diet and exercise can play an important role in the prevention of this disease. The evidence is compelling and the researcher does make a convincing argument that appears valid.

After reflecting upon the content, I would say that diet and exercise are important tools for preventing diabetes, and they can also help to manage the disease. People with diabetes should work with their healthcare team to develop a personalized plan that includes healthy eating and regular physical activity. Making these lifestyle changes can help to prevent complications from diabetes and improve overall health.

Singh, S. G., & Aiken, J. (2017). The effect of health literacy level on health outcomes inpatients with diabetes at a type v health centre in Western Jamaica. International journal of nursing sciences, 4(3), 266-270.

The researchers conducted a correlational survey using random sampling to test 88 participants about their health literacy on diabetes. The researchers found the participants to have limited health literacy. However, they did not note any statistical correlation between health literacy and diabetes outcomes.

The study used a very small sample size, and although it was randomly selected the sample was not big enough to ensure validity of findings or to really be generalizeable. The study’s conclusion, therefore, is not very meaningful and should be taken with a grain of salt. Other research has suggested that health literacy can be part of a prevention and intervention strategy—but of course action has to be coupled with knowledge, and that concept was not indicated in this study.

Overall, I would say that this study is not very helpful, particularly due to the small sample size and its limitations. The idea of testing the correlation between literacy and diabetes outcomes is an important one—but it would require a much larger sample in order to be truly statistically significant and valid based upon the population that is under scrutiny, which in this case is Western Jamaica. Still, the study concept is helpful and should be the focus of future research in my opinion.