OBSERVATOIRE SINT MAARTEN SAINT-MARTIN 2 0 1 5 CROSSBORDER HEALTH STUDY “How healthy is Sint Maarten Saint-Martin” HEALTH SURVEY REPORT University of the Virgin Islands University of St Martin L’Observatoire de santé de l’île de Saint-Martin (Saint-Martin/Sint Maarten) est cofinancé par l’Union européenne. L’Europe s’engage à Saint-Martin avec le Fonds européen de développement régional “How healthy is Sint Maarten Saint-Martin?” HEALTH SURVEY REPORT University of the Virgin Islands University of St Martin L’Observatoire de santé de l’île de Saint-Martin (Saint-Martin/Sint Maarten) est cofinancé par l’Union européenne. L’Europe s’engage à Saint-Martin avec le Fonds européen de développement regional Acknowledgments Office of Collectivity of Saint-Martin, Aline Hanson, President; Louis Fleming, Member of the Territorial Council; Ramona Connor, Vice-President in charge of solidarity and families section; Alex Richards, Director for External Action and Relations with the EU; Dr Monique Rakotomalala, Public Health Physician; Rodrigue Angely, Directeur for Contractual Policies; Omar Morales, External Action and Coopération officer. Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour, Honorable Emile Lee, Minister; Drs Fenna Arnell, Head, Department of Public Health; Fleur Hermanides, Department of Public Health, Policy Worker Environment and Hygiene; Maxsalia Lindeborg-Koek, Administrative Assistant; Ms. Maria Henry, Section Head General Public Health of Collective Prevention Services. Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunications, Honorable Irania I. Arrindell, Minister, Department of Statistics; Makikini Hickinson, Department Head Statistics; Jacqueline Peterson, Fieldwork Coordinator; Terrance Baptiste, Application Programmer. Support and Input from MP Van Hugh Cornelius De Weever; Glen Carty, CEO United Telecommunication Services; Khalilah Peters, Department of International Relations - Department Foreign Relations; Volksgezondheid Instituut Curaçao. Facilitators-Fieldwork Coordinators, Dr. Hermanides, General Practitioner; Brunilda Illidge, Registered Nurse; Jacqueline Peterson; Jaghaira Lioe-A-Tjam. Autorité de Gestion du Programme INTERREG Caraïbes, Mme Marie-Luce Penchard, Élue du Conseil Régional, Commission Europe et Coopération; M. Olivier Soret, Directeur Général Adjoint, Pôle Europe et Coopération; Mme Thérèse Marianne Pepin, Prédécesseure de Mme Marie-Luce Penchard. Secrétariat Technique Commun du programme INTERREG Caraïbes, M. Gilles Bajazet, Director; Mme Josiane Sambar, Assistant to the Director; Mme Marie-Rose Lafleur, in charge of Communications Projects and Operations. Louis Constant Fleming Hospital, Roland Toussaint, Director; Dr. Louis Jeffry, President of the Medical Committee. Office of the Observatoire Sint Maarten Saint Martin, Arnauld Benet, Director; Gaëlle Plisson, Survey Supervisor; Wendy Elie, Consultant; Marie-Josée Marcenat, Social Worker; Tashida Irish Peters, Secretary. University of Saint Martin, Mrs. Valerie Giterson-Pantophlet, President of the Board of the University of St. Maarten Foundation; Dr. Francio Guadeloupe, President/ Interim Dean of Academics; Cynthia Smith, Chief Finance Officer; Maria Alexis, Finance Officer; Rosuara Sanchez, Finance Officer. University of the Virgin Islands, Dr. David Hall, President. Institute for Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness (ILOE)/Eastern Caribbean Center, University of the Virgin Islands, Dr. Haldane Davies, Vice President for Business Development and Innovation; Dr. Frank Mills, Vice Provost for Research and Public Service; Dr. Wendy Coram- Vialet, Associate Director of ILOE; Judith Rogers, Director of Libraries; Dr. Asha DeGannes, Interim Director; Ayishih Bellew, Research Analyst III; Marissa Johnson Rogers, Research Specialist II; Deshona Williams, Research Analyst II; Corene Jn-Charles, Research Analyst I; and Andrea Wilson, Graduate Research Assistant. Summary Comparison to Select Health Characteristics Sint Maarten Saint-Martin Report (Dutch) (French) Section 63% Employed 50% Employed 2.9 38% Pre-obese 38% Pre-obese 29% Obese 33% Obese 6.1 31% High blood pressure 30% High blood pressure 37% Consequences of heart attack 21% Consequences of heart attack 12% Chikungunya or 21% Chikungunya or Chikungunya-like symptoms Chikungunya-like symptoms 4.1 21% Gynecological problems 21% Gynecological problems (females) (females) 19% Allergies 20% Allergies 85% Extremely happy, or happy and 79% Extremely happy, or happy 5.2 full of life and full of life 48% Do not participate in light 60% Do not participate in light activities, such as walking, activities, such as walking, 7.1 stretching, or light swimming stretching, or light swimming 28% Consumes alcohol monthly 29% Consumes alcohol monthly 9.1 15% Have driven under the 14% Have driven under the 9.1 influence influence Smokers Smokers 28% Up to 5 cigarettes per day 30% Up to 5 cigarettes per day 10.1 30% Between 11 and 20 cigarettes per 30% Between 11 and 20 cigarettes per day day Levels checked within a year Levels checked within a year 82% Blood pressure 83% blood pressure 14.1 76% Blood sugar 75% blood sugar 74% Blood cholesterol 74% blood cholesterol Insurance Insurance 82% Insured 94% Insured 15.2 18% Uninsured 6% Uninsured Table of Contents Acknowledgements Summary Comparison of Selected Health Characteristics 1. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................... 1 1.1 Scope of the Work ............................................................................. 1 1.2 Research Design ............................................................................... 2 1.2.1 Methodology ............................................................................ 2 1.2.2 Research Plan ........................................................................... 4 2. DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POPULATION ...................... 7 2.1 Sex and Age ....................................................................................... 7 2.2 Ethnicity Place of Birth and Nationality ............................................. 8 2.3 Length of Residency .......................................................................... 9 2.4 Intentions of Residency ................................................................... 10 2.5 Religion ........................................................................................... 10 2.6 Household Size ................................................................................ 10 2.7 Marital Status ................................................................................. 11 2.8 Education ........................................................................................ 11 2.9 Employment Status .......................................................................... 11 2.10 Income ........................................................................................... 12 3. PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS ......................................................................... 13 3.1 Eye Sight ......................................................................................... 13 3.2 Hearing ........................................................................................... 13 3.3 Mobility ........................................................................................... 14 3.4 Upper Body .................................................................................... 14 3.5 Self-Care .......................................................................................... 15 3.6 Communication ............................................................................... 15 4. HEALTH STATUS ..................................................................................... 16 4.1 General Health ................................................................................ 16 4.2 Cognition......................................................................................... 19 4.3 Contraception ................................................................................. 22 4.4 Accidents ......................................................................................... 23 5. SUFFERINGS AND FEELINGS .................................................................. 24 5.1 Physical Pain ................................................................................... 24 5.2 Feelings ........................................................................................... 24 5.3 Support ........................................................................................... 27 6. BODY MASS INDEX ................................................................................ 28 6.1 Height and Weight .......................................................................... 28 7. PHYSICAL EXERCISE ............................................................................ 29 7.1 Physical Activities in the Previous Seven Days ................................. 29 8. EATING HABITS ...................................................................................... 31 8.1 Fruits and Vegetables ....................................................................... 31 8.2 Other Foods and Beverages ............................................................. 31 9. ALCOHOL ............................................................................................... 33 9.1 Alcohol Use ...................................................................................... 33 10. SMOKING .............................................................................................