University of the West Indies at Cave Hill is a public research university campus in Cave Hill, Barbados. It is one of five general campuses in the University of the West Indies system.It was the third campus to be established by the UWI System, following the Mona campus in Jamaica and the St. Augustine campus in Trinidad and Tobago. The Cave Hill campus is also the headquarters of the Open Campus, which is responsible for UWI programmes in the non-campus territories. The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus' academic programmes offer diversity at both the undergraduate and graduate level. There are 7 faculties with supporting academic departments; various research units & centres; and two graduate institutions. Codrington College, the oldest educational institution in the Caribbean, is affiliated with Cave Hill, while the School of Education works with Erdiston Teachers' Training College to provide pre-service and in-service training to teachers in Barbados and other parts of the Caribbean. Since 2004, the Cave Hill campus is the site of the West Indies Federal Archives Centre.
This study investigated the adoption, usage patterns, and perceived academic impact of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, specifically ChatGPT, among adult learners in professional development programmes. The study explored factors influencing AI tool use, demographic differences in adoption, and perceived effects on learning. Ninety-five participants completed a structured online survey capturing demographics, motivations, barriers, and academic experiences with AI tools. Using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests, results revealed that beneath the surface of rising AI adoption, students are primarily motivated by assignment help and personal learning, with trust, perceived usefulness, and academic integrity concerns acting as key barriers, especially among female students. Notably, ChatGPT dominated as the primary tool. Most students learned about ChatGPT through social media and friends, underscoring the power of informal networks. The findings underscore the need for targeted AI literacy initiatives. Future research should examine patterns and effects of AI adoption.
The Caribbean, situated between North and South America in the Tropical Atlantic zone, is home to a diverse range of countries with rich biodiversity and multicultural populations. Many of these islands, classified as Small Island Developing States (SIDS), face significant vulnerabilities due to their small land areas and populations. These islands are particularly exposed to the impacts of climate change, including hurricanes, storms, volcanic eruptions, saltwater intrusion, flooding, droughts and other weather phenomena, all of which threaten biodiversity, food security and economic stability. Notable examples of devastation include hurricanes in Grenada (2004), Barbuda and Dominica (2017) and St Vincent and the Grenadines (2024). Agricultural production in SIDS is typically small scale, relying on seasonal rainfall patterns, with a wet season coinciding with the hurricane season (June to November) and a dry season (December to May) marked by droughts. Crops grown include short-term vegetables like tomatoes and peppers and long-term starches such as sweet potatoes, cassava and yams. Farmers often use traditional methods and government-subsidised inputs but lack evidence-based planning and sustainable practices, making them vulnerable to climate-related disruptions. This chapter explores small farming practices in the Caribbean and how climate change impacts agricultural sustainability. It examines viable, environmentally friendly options for SIDS agriculture, such as agroecology, drones, aquaponics, hydroponics and agrometeorological data. Drawing on examples from Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines, this chapter discusses sustainable solutions that can help maintain biodiversity and food security while adapting to climate change.
Objective:To assess mortality and disability due to injuries in the Americas, with a focus on subregional and gender disparities, and changes over time. Methods:Data from the 2021 World Health Organization Global Health Estimates were analyzed, covering all injury causes (ICD-10: V01-Y89) across 35 countries in the Americas from 2000 to 2021. Age-standardized mortality and disability-adjusted life year (DALY) rates were calculated by sex, cause, and subregion. Inequalities were quantified using absolute differences, relative ratios, and the index of disparity (IDisp). Results:In 2021, injuries caused over 662 000 deaths and 40.6 million DALYs in the Americas, with men accounting for nearly three-quarters of the burden. While age-standardized injury rates declined in most subregions, marked inequalities persisted. Interpersonal violence was the leading cause of injury-related mortality and disability, followed by road injuries, especially among men and boys aged 15-39 years. Self-harm increased substantially in both sexes, and falls rose in association with population aging. Interpersonal violence and drowning showed the highest between-country disparities, with IDisp values of 85.3 and 88.9, respectively, in 2021. Conclusions:Although some progress has been made in reducing injury burden in parts of the Americas, substantial challenges, including in some cases widening inequalities, remain. A renewed commitment to violence and injury prevention - rooted in equity, intersectoral action, and regional collaboration - is essential to reducing avoidable harms across the life course.
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted access to sexual and reproductive health services, including contraception, highlighting the need to understand contraceptive use to strengthen health-system resilience in small developing states. This study examined factors associated with contraceptive use among reproductive-age women during the early phase of the pandemic in Barbados. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in 2020 among adults aged 18 years and older, with analysis restricted to non-pregnant women aged 18-49 years. Contraceptive use was assessed in relation to sociodemographic characteristics, relationship status, and psychosocial distress measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Multiple imputation was used to address missing data, and sensitivity analyses compared imputed and complete-case models. Among 1,094 women, 34.2% (n = 333) reported current contraceptive use, while 36.5% reported moderate-to-severe anxiety and 39.0% reported clinically significant distress. In multivariable analyses, tertiary education (OR 1.68; 95% CI 1.24 - 2.28), being partnered but not cohabiting (OR 1.57; 95% CI 1.10 - 2.22), and being married or cohabiting (OR 2.49; 95% CI 1.65 - 3.77) were associated with higher odds of contraceptive use. Anxiety symptoms showed a weak positive association, while increasing age was associated with slightly lower odds. Findings were consistent across sensitivity analyses. These results underscore the importance of maintaining access to sexual and reproductive health services and integrating mental health support into emergency preparedness strategies.
