Public Health in the Caribbean

This book provides a comprehensive account of key public health issues in the Caribbean, with a special focus on the English-speaking countries in the region. For the first time, one single publication brings together a collection of chapters written by experts in the fields of public health, nutrition, mental health, psychology, health economics and climatology presenting in-depth information on the epidemiology, prevention, and management of key health issues in the Caribbean region. The book covers a wide range of topics, including emerging and re-emerging diseases, lessons from natural disasters, and the epidemic of noncommunicable diseases. Additionally, it explores dietary intake patterns, mental health as a public health issue, the pervasive problem of child abuse and the impact of climate change on health. Other critical areas addressed include disease-related stigma, the public health implications of cannabis use, the importance of research and innovation in the region, and the financing of health services. Each chapter delves into a specific topic, providing a critical analysis and practical recommendations for healthcare professionals, researchers and policy makers. Public Health in the Caribbean will be an essential reading for researchers, students, practitioners and policymakers interested in understanding public health and making a difference in the Caribbean. “This book should be essential reading not only for health practitioners of all stripes but also for those who are interested and involved in the welfare and well-being of the Caribbean people and the extent to which they address the existential problems they face as Small Island Developing States- climate change, pandemics and chronic non communicable diseases.” – Sir George Alleyne, former United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean