Objective: Guyana has the second highest incidence of HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean, and third in the world; statistics which should prompt more worldwide attention to this besieged country. Guyana is a resource poor country struggling to meet the health care needs of its people, and to address environmental, economic, educational, and political concerns. The purpose of this study was to discover what the most significant health care problems were as perceived by the lay Guyanese people and compare these findings to published information.

Population, Sample, Setting, Years: Research was conducted in and around Georgetown, Guyana during two trips to the country over a one year period. A convenience sample of adult Guyanese citizens and NGO directors was interviewed.

Method: Over a two years span, 63 Guyanese people were interviewed. This was a convenience sample. An eight question semi-structured interview was used. Data was analyzed by identifying themes and patterns that emerged from the participant interviews. The research questions were designed for easy interpretation and introduction into time limited conversations.

Findings: Analysis of the data showed some changes in perception of major health problems over the one year period. The poster focuses on changing perceptions over this time period, since the introduction of focused health education programs.

Conclusions and Implications: The use of the research process to uncover what is meaningful to the local people in a developing country before designing health education programs is beneficial. The data collection is continuing with subsequent trips to Guyana with nursing students as data collectors. Results could offer guidance for future research involving specific aspects of the Guyanese health care system.

Back to Posters II
Back to 15th International Nursing Research Congress
Sigma Theta Tau International
July 22-24, 2004