title: Exploring the health care status of two communities in the Dominican Republic.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This article looks at two impoverished communities in the Dominican Republic that are working in collaboration with a USA-based organization to meet the physical, emotional, educational, and spiritual needs of the children in these areas.
  
  
  METHODS
  An exploratory descriptive study was performed to establish baseline information. The knowledge gained from this study will provide guidance in the development of effective school-based strategies to meet the physical, emotional, and nutritional needs of the children. Data gathered from health records obtained during medical clinics in these two communities were reviewed. Descriptive statistics were performed to examine demographics, chief complaints, diagnoses, and treatments of approximately 1500 Dominicans.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results support that living conditions and the lack of primary care continue to underpin the majority of health issues within these communities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  School-based health initiatives along with a well child-screening programme are being developed to enhance the health of the children in these communities.
authors.affiliation: Edison Community College, Naples FL, USA.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Carman
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scott
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004293:Dominican Republic / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006303:Health Services, Indigenous / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007391:International Cooperation; D008297:Male; D011203:Poverty; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016746:Transcultural Nursing / Q000592:standards