Dietary Practices of Jamaicans during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Paul Andrew Bourne

Background: The emergence of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has contributed to many life-changing events influencing people worldwide.

Objective: This study aimed to examine whether eating habits have changed during the COVID-19 pandemic, how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the food consumption of Jamaicans and the diet intake of Jamaicans before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A Web-based non-probability sampling survey was distributed to 510 sampled respondents across all the parishes in Jamaica through text messages, calls, emails, and face-to-face interviews. The data were gathered and then converted from Google Forms to the Statistical Packages for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows, Version 25.0, with a 95% confidence interval.

Results: The findings indicate most of the sampled respondents were females (68.0%, n=347), 18-25 age cohort (36.5%, n=186), and that 55% (285) of them indicated that they had a change in dietary practices while 44% (n=225) did not. A cross-tabulation between gender and change in dietary practices of Jamaicans during the COVID -19 pandemic was done, which indicated that there was no statistical relationship between the two aforementioned variables (?²_critical=5.02 > ?²_calculated=.159, P = 0.69); therefore, this study failed to reject the null hypothesis.

Conclusions: Most Jamaicans' dietary practices have changed since the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the study revealed that dietary practices improved individuals eating healthier and reduced consumption of foods that had a negative health impact.

COVID-19 Vaccination Status among Religious and Non-religious Jamaicans: Are there differences based on Age, Gender, and Religious and Non-religious Affiliations?

Paul Andrew Bourne

Introduction: There is still a need for a greater number of individuals to be vaccinated if we are to realize the true effect of vaccination on the COVID-19 virus. Vaccination as a Public Health measure to control or eradicate diseases is a longstanding effective approach. The COVID-19 vaccine is available worldwide to both religious and non-religious persons, but there is hesitancy on both sides. Some religious persons also believe that the vaccine is the Mark of the Beast mentioned in the Bible.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the level of COVID-19 vaccination among religious and non-religious persons in Jamaica and to find out their views on the Covid 19 vaccine.

Materials &Methods: A descriptive cross- sectional convenience sampling design was used to collect data from religious and non-religious Jamaicans on the COVID-19 vaccination. The data for this research was collected using an online standardized questionnaire created on a web base standardized survey, which consisted of eleven closed ended questions. The retrieved data were stored then analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with the Statistical Packages for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows version 25.0.

Results: Almost 52% of Jamaicans indicated that they were unvaccinated compared to those vaccinated at 48%. A higher COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy existed for Judaism (100%, n=5), Hindi (87.5%, n=7), Islam (85.7%, n=6), Rastafari (85.7%, n=36), young people ages 18-26 years (56%, n=228), and non-religious Jamaicans (73.4%, n=105) compared to Christians (45.9%, n=416).

Conclusions: Vaccine status among religious and non-religious Jamaicans vary based on age, gender and religious affiliation. Younger Jamaicans are less likely to be vaccinated compared to the elderly population. Religious Christians are the most likely to be vaccinated among the Jamaican population with females at a higher rate of vaccination. An opportunity exists for the Jamaican government to continue building trust among the population as vaccination initiatives continue across the island.

International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences & Nutrition Sciences Research & Review

Dietary Practices of Jamaicans during the COVID-19 Pandemic

COVID-19 Vaccination Status among Religious and Non-religious Jamaicans: Are there differences based on Age, Gender, and Religious and Non-religious Affiliations?