Date of Award

2022

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

College

College of Education and International Services

Program

Leadership PhD

First Advisor

Jay Brand

Second Advisor

Sung K. Kwon

Third Advisor

Bordes Henry-Saturne

Abstract

Because of the rising prevalence of childhood obesity and overweight in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, and the observation that efforts to address the problem were showing disappointing results, this study seeks to explore the experiences and views of policymakers, health practitioners, and parents of overweight and obese children, in order to inform leaders and policy makers regarding the current interventions.

Method

A qualitative research case study methodology is the research design used, which, with my research questions, I considered would best uncover knowledge and provide perspectives that would provide an increased understanding of the issues arising from the current interventions being used to deal with the problem. -- Results: Analysis of documents and coding of the interviews data resulted in five themes, which when analyzed, generated the following policy interventions that are currently available for school-aged children, 6-11 years old in Trinidad and Tobago. They are (a) BMI screening at entrance to primary school age 5-6; and again at age 9-11, (b) the availability of "Healthy Me" camps, (c) The "Schools Caravans" service, (d) The option to be registered in an obesity prevention program in a "Community Assessment Unit" (CAU), and (e) The government driven policy regarding school meals.

Results

Analysis of documents and coding of the interviews data resulted in five themes, which when analyzed, generated the following policy interventions that are currently available for school-aged children, 6-11 years old in Trinidad and Tobago. They are (a) BMI screening at entrance to primary school age 5-6; and again at age 9-11, (b) the availability of "Healthy Me" camps, (c) The "Schools Caravans" service, (d) The option to be registered in an obesity prevention program in a "Community Assessment Unit" (CAU), and (e) The government driven policy regarding school meals.

Conclusion

This study is a unique perspective in the literature on the experience of the initiatives pursued in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to address the problem and highlights the need for increased activity on the part of leaders to effect improvement. Hence, other studies may wish to probe further into determining ways and means leaders may use to construct the financial, clinical and other factors that must be engaged to enhance impact.

Subject Area

Overweight children--Trinidad and Tobago; Obesity--Trinidad and Tobago; Obesity in children

DOI

https://doi.org/10.32597/dissertations/1796

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