title: The prevalence and associated demographic factors of dementia from a cross-sectional community survey in Kingston, Jamaica.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Using a cross-sectional community survey, the authors aimed to estimate the prevalence of dementia among a sample of older Jamaicans and to identify associated demographic factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  From February to July 2010, persons of age ≥60 years were randomly selected from two communities in Kingston, Jamaica and screened with the Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE). All MMSE-positive participants and an equal number of matched MMSE-negative participants underwent definitive diagnostic evaluation for dementia using the Clinical and Diagnostic Assessment Procedure for Dementia. Subsequently derived MMSE sensitivity and specificity measures from the subsample were used to estimate the overall prevalence of dementia (primary outcome). Chi square, Fisher's Exact, Exact, Spearman's correlation and t-tests were used to explore associations of dementia with age, gender, educational level and socioeconomic status. Statistical significance was taken as p < 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred participants were recruited. Age-standardized prevalence rates of dementia were 5.07% (standardized to the Jamaican population) and 5.32% (standardized to the West Europe population). Dementia was more prevalent among older persons (Spearman's rho = 0.31; p < 0.001); no other significant associations were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dementia prevalence found in this study is lower than figures from previous Caribbean reports. The older persons are disproportionately affected.
authors: Department of Community Health and Psychiatry, University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica.
authors: Susanne M
authors: SM
authors: Neita
authors: Wendel D
authors: WD
authors: Abel
authors: Denise
authors: D
authors: Eldemire-Shearer
authors: Kenneth
authors: K
authors: James
authors: Roger C
authors: RC
authors: Gibson
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D010054:Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007563:Jamaica / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Caribbean region; Jamaica; dementia; prevalence