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Updated on 10 December 2025
 8:33 PM

Steps Survey 2023

The Ministry of Health and Wellness conducted a national health survey from 5 June - 3 September 2023.  The STEPS Survey 2023 was an important opportunity to determine the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and risk factors for NCDs within the Cayman Islands.

Learn more by downloading the below report outlining the results of the survey.

STEPS 2023 National Health Survey Report

Published: December 16, 2024

Documents

STEPS 2023 National Health Survey Report
Publication Date | Report
The survey clearly captured the health status of the Cayman Islands and it highlights gaps in care that need to be addressed.

Understand the mechanics of the survey by reading the answers to the frequently asked questions below.  

YES!  Thank you! To book a STEP 3 appointment please email MHWSTEPS@gov.ky or call 936-4969.

While all data collected will be useful, the total number of participants and samples acquired for STEP 3 will make a difference as to how the data can be utilised.  More specifically:

  • If fewer than 1,000 participants take STEP 3, the data will serve to provide an understanding of the health of the sample of individuals who took this step, but will not be sufficient to provide nationally representative data (meaning data that accurately reflects the health of the nation);
  • If 1,000+participants take STEP 3, the data we collect for examples on raised blood sugar will be nationally representative, but there will not be enough samples to be able to break down information in terms of gender and age groups;
  • If 1,300+ participants take STEP 3, the data will not only be nationally representative, but will also be broken down to include information on gender and age. This would be the optimal sample size.
Yes! You may be one person, but you are 1 of 3300 persons within the whole of the Cayman Islands chosen for the survey, whom we can’t replace The more people we have taking STEP 3 the more robust our data becomes and more we can do with it.
No. Your personal medical information is private and confidential and no one should have access to these without your consent.  Furthermore, STEPS is a standardised survey so we need to collect our own data using the same tests to ensure that the samples are comparable from person to person.  We appreciate that this may be inconvenient, but we thank you for understanding and supporting the survey by doing STEP 3.
The truth is that no one likes needles.  However, research shows that for some people the fear of needles keeps them from seeking care and therefore those are the very persons who can usually benefit from a mini screening to make sure key measurements- such as blood sugar and cholesterol- are within normal range.  The STEP 3 finger prick blood measurement is done with a lancet, not a needle.  The discomfort is minimal, and all it takes is a few drops of blood to get the test done.  There is no ‘blood draw’ in STEP 3- just some drops.
STEP 3 is an objective measurement of participants’ blood sugar and cholesterol, so it doesn’t rely on the participants’ knowledge of those levels.  As a mini- health screening, participants can benefit from having confirmation on what they think their numbers are or, on the other hand, being alerted to any discrepancy between what they think their levels are and what the test result shows.  As the results will be displayed on the machine within a few minutes, all participants receive a document from the nurse with their results that they can share with their primary care provider. 
STEP 3 is a finger-prick blood measurement for blood sugar and cholesterol.  It is done by a nurse at a STEPS facility or via a home visit.  It uses a lancet instead of a needle and there’s minimal discomfort.

STEPS is a standardised tool that allows countries to determine the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and risk factors for NCDs within their population. It was last conducted in the Cayman Islands in 2012, and through repeating the survey we can see how the population’s health has changed in the last decade.  

Cardiovascular (heart) diseases, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases and cancer account for the majority of NCD deaths globally. Non-communicable diseases are not spread through infection but are usually linked to health-related behaviours and lifestyle choices, for example diet and smoking. We are looking to collect information on these lifestyle choices, which are risk factors for illness.

STEPS is a 3-part survey:

STEPS is an opportunity to gather important and much needed data on the prevalence of NCD risk factors.  This data will inform national health strategies in the Cayman Islands, which will result in better, more relevant services.

All residents ages 18-69 are eligible to participate in the STEPS survey.  However, as the survey is randomized only a total of 3,300 households will be chosen on all three islands (Grand, Brac and Little).  This means that participants will be randomly chosen to participate, and will not be able to volunteer to take part. Only one person within the household will be selected to participate.

The STEPS survey is voluntary, so participation is not mandatory.  However, if the person chosen from the household chooses not to participate, another person within the household cannot take that person’s place as this would introduce bias into the survey. Individuals who are invited to take part will be asked to provide written consent.

If chosen, participation in the STEPS survey is completely free to participants.  This means that participants will essentially undertake a health screening for free.  Test results will be shared with the individual participants, along with recommendations for any follow up that is needed.
The Economics and Statistics Office has been partnering with the Ministry to offer technical guidance and assistance. We are recruiting a team of interviewers from ESO’s pool of experienced interviewers. We are also recruiting a team of nurses, including those in public healthcare, private healthcare and retired nurses for STEP 3 of the survey. Both teams will operate under the leadership of the Ministry of Health and Wellness for the national health survey.
The information gathered in the STEPS survey will be collated and managed in keeping with international best practices and data protection legislation. The STEPS survey will collect personal data, including sensitive personal data (e.g. medical data), from participants and link the three parts of the survey together using the participants name and date of birth to create a single survey result. Once the data has been linked, the dataset will be anonymized and personal information will be removed. This means that no one will be able to identify your personal responses and results. During data collection the data is temporarily stored in an app. Once completed, the data will be downloaded, deleted from the app and anonymized before being stored by the Ministry of Health and Wellness. We will not have any access to your healthcare medical records. You will be given a copy of the physical measurements you provide for the survey immediately.
Information from the STEPS survey will inform on the current health status of the Cayman Islands in relation to NCDs. This information will be used by the Public Health team to guide interventions and prevention efforts. The information on the prevalence of risk factors for NCDs provides insights into the future burden of NCDs. This can be used to inform healthcare planning and resourcing in the Cayman Islands. As health is something which affects all of society, results of the STEPS survey will be used to guide policy and funding decisions as the information is relevant not only for the Ministry of Health and Wellness but for several other Ministries.
Results of the STEPS survey will be shared with policy makers, stakeholders in health and wellness, and the general public in the form of a comprehensive report, a fact sheet, stakeholder meetings, social media posts, media appearances, and panel discussions.
The STEPS survey will run from 5 June-31 July 2023.  Interviewers will look to make contact with participants Monday-Friday, 5-8pm, or over the weekend.

Part 1 (questionnaire) and Part 2 (basic measurements) of the STEPS Survey will be conducted in the participants home.  For Part 3 (finger-prick blood measurements), as this is a fasting test and thus will require an early morning appointment,  interviewers and participants will determine a suitable option from the following:

  • Option A- a healthcare worker will visit the participant’s home at mutually suitable agreed upon time to undertake the tests, or
  • Option B- the participant will be asked to visit an HSA clinic to undergo the tests.

The aim is to make full participation in the survey as easy as possible for the participants.

For more information contact MHWSTEPS@gov.ky

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