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Belize Women Health Information
– Reported, February 11, 2012
In Belize the lifetime average number of children per women is 3 compared with 2 in the UK.
No data are available on contraceptive use in this country.
71% of women aged 5069 years have undergone a breast examination or mammography compared to 75% in the UK and 73% of women aged 2069 years have undergone cervical cancer screening compared to 70% in the UK.
Anaemia
There is a moderate risk of anaemia in people from this country (estimated prevalence in non-pregnant women 20-40%). Be alert to this possibility in recently arrived migrants, particularly for women and pre-school children, and test as clinically indicated.
Vitamin D deficiency
Sunlight is the major source of vitamin D and dark skinned individuals or those who for cultural or religious reasons cover their whole bodies when outdoors are at risk of deficiency, as are those whose diets (vegetarian/vegan) do not contain an adequate vitamin D supply.
Vitamin A deficiency
There is a risk of vitamin A deficiency in this country.
TB
There is a high incidence of TB in this country (40 499 cases/100,000).
Offer chest X ray to all unless
under 11 years of age
possibility of pregnancy
recent chest X ray
Offer Mantoux test if;
under 11 years of age
possibility of pregnancy
normal chest X ray but less than 36 years of age
Offer gamma interferon blood test if;
Mantoux test >6mm (no prior BCG)
Mantoux test >15mm (prior BCG)
Maintain long term vigilance for symptoms of TB even if initial screening is negative.
TB is a notifiable disease.
HIV and sexually transmitted infections
There is a high rate of HIV in this country.
All patients from this country should be offered an HIV test .
Although recent global STI data are not available, countries with high HIV rates tend to have higher rates of STIs. The range of STIs encountered in this country may vary from those in the UK.
Sexually active individuals should be offered a full sexual health screen and safer sex health promotion advice by referral to local genito-urinary medicine services.
Hepatitis B
This country has a low prevalence of hepatitis B.
All pregnant women should be offered screening for hepatitis B infection during each pregnancy.
Babies born to mothers who are hepatitis B positive should be appropriately immunised and followed-up accordingly.
Hepatitis C
This country has the same or lower prevalence of hepatitis C than the UK.
Ascertain any risk factors for HCV infection that may indicate the need for screening.
Malaria
There is a low risk of malaria in some areas of this country due to P. faciparum and P. vivax.
Any unwell patient with a history of arrival from or a visit to affected areas of this country in the last year must be tested for malaria.
Enteric fever
There is a risk of typhoid infection in this country.
Ensure that travellers to this country are offered typhoid immunisation and advice on prevention of enteric fevers.
Helminths
There is a risk of helminth infections including soil transmitted helminthiasis in this country.
Chagas disease
There is a risk of chronic Chagas disease in migrants from this country.
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