The Healthy Lifestyle Project is an integrated behavioural change project designed to change negative lifestyle behaviour and through the building of awareness using all available behaviour modification tools such as the media, educational activities in various social settings such as the workplace, schools, clubs, churches, communities, sports, health facilities and the home and to integrate behaviour modification into treatment programmes for those affected by lifestyle diseases and health problems.

The conceptual framework for the project is aligned to the National Policy which seeks to create a supportive environment for the promotion of healthy lifestyles through improvement in the socio-economic conditions, physical environment, addressing cultural issues and the availability of healthy foods for public consumption

Rationale

Studies have shown that over the past fifty years the trends in the major causes of death and disability in Jamaica have shifted from communicable and infectious diseases to chronic disease conditions.These chronic diseases or health conditions are largely lifestyle related and include:

•  Cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity and cancer which accounts for 56% of deaths annually

•  Reproductive health issues represented by the following facts:

•  Early sexual activities in both males and females

•  40% of women pregnant before age 20

•  Cancer of the cervix is the second leading cause of death among women

•  HIV infection rates increase annually with the highest rate being in the 10-19 age range

•  Injuries and violence is evidenced by the following:

•  Over the past 5 years more than 1000 have died violently, this represents 44 per 100,000 ranking among the highest in the world

•  Adolescents (10-19 yrs.) account for 26% of persons with injuries from violent acts treated at the Accident and Emergency Units in the island's hospitals, while children and youth are the most vulnerable victims of violence and injury.

The specific objectives defined for the main components of the project, are:

• Chronic Diseases - with regards to levels of physical activities, increased availability and consumption of healthy foods resulting in no increase in excess body weight and a reduction in the incidence of smoking among the Jamaican population.
• Reproductive Health - aimed at increasing the adoption of appropriate reproductive health behaviour with emphasis on the pre-adolescents, adolescents and the youth.
• Reduction in Risk Behaviours - that lead to violence, unintentional injury and suicide.

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