KINGSTON, Jamaica —The three most common non-communicable diseases (NCDs) affecting Jamaicans are hypertension, asthma and diabetes, in that order.

This is according to the 2023 edition of the Jamaica Survey of Living Conditions, a joint publication of the Statistical Institute of Jamaica and the Planning Institute of Jamaica.

According to the survey, an estimated 23.6 per cent of the population reported having at least one NCD compared with 26.8 per cent in 2021.

The prevalence of NCDs was highest among the elderly (60+ years) at 62.7 per cent, and was higher among females, 27.9 per cent (19.3 per cent of males).

The three most commonly reported chronic diseases were hypertension (12.4 per cent), asthma (6.1 per cent) and diabetes (5.1 per cent).

“Having multiple chronic diseases remains a public health concern, with 7.3 per cent of the population reporting two or more NCDs, 9.5 per cent of females and 5.1 per cent of males; and 31.5 per cent of the elderly,” said the survey.

Meanwhile, the survey found that there was a general pattern of decline in the proportion of individuals who reported being ill or injured during the four-week reference period before the survey, which was 4.1 per cent compared with 9.0 per cent in 2017.

Of those who reported illness/injury in 2023, they were ill/injured for approximately 8.2 days and experienced impairment for an average 4.4 days. These figures were similar to 2021.

A smaller proportion of those who were ill/injured sought healthcare (61.8 per cent) relative to 2021 (76.6 per cent). Of those who sought care, 31.7 per cent went exclusively to a public health facility and 68.3 per cent went only to a private facility.

“Irrespective of region, sex, or age group, the majority of the ill/injured sought care in a private facility,” said the survey. It also found that national coverage for health insurance remains relatively low at 20.1 per cent, with distinctly higher rates in the Greater Kingston Metropolitan Area – 32.6 per cent – and Quintile 5 – 40.1 per cent relative to other regions and quintiles.

By age group, the highest coverage was reported by individuals 50–59 years of age (25.7 per cent) and the lowest by those 10–19 years (12.4 per cent).