Recent studies point to a number ofcurrent and emerging concerns in the health and nutrition ofschool-age children in the Caribbean region. Critical amongthem are: infectious diseases including HIV and othersexually transmitted infections (STIs); non-communicablediseases (NCDs); and violence. Common health conditionsincluding diabetes, hypertension and heart disease in theadult population can be positively linked to unhealthylifestyles in youth. These health challenges, combined witha large school-age population, which in some countries maybe a sizable third of the overall population, make a strongnational response to the health and nutritional needs ofschool-age children particularly vital. As lifelong patternsof behavior and thinking are established during youth, it iscritical to ensure early and widespread promotion of healthypractices related to sexual behavior, nutrition and ahealthy lifestyle in general in the school-age population,resulting in a healthier adult population in the future. Therapid survey and this resulting report contribute to thecollection of locally relevant evidence, as well as regionalinformation relevant to School Health and Nutrition (SHN)and HIV, to build a sound evidence base at both country andregional levels to inform policy and strategy. It hasfurther application as a resource for knowledge sharing asit provides a comparative perspective on activities andinitiatives thus far implemented throughout the Caribbeanregion, and on the allocation and mobilization of resourcesused to support these activities and initiatives.
PDF
download
878987797
028-85220240
