Community In Central Mexico Research Articles

Should I Stay or Should I Go? Job Embeddedness and Entrepreneurship in Highly Specialized Communities in Central Mexico

Should I Stay or Should I Go? Job Embeddedness and Entrepreneurship in Highly Specialized Communities in Central Mexico

Mountains in the Worldview of the Nahuas of Central Mexico

Mountains as reservoirs of water have always been an immanent and crucial part of the Mesoamerican ritual landscape. Considered living beings, mountains are an important component of the core part of the Native worldview, which is particularly observable in Central Mexico, a region dominated by the highest peaks in Mesoamerica. Long before the Spanish conquest, the Nahua people who live in the area adopted and developed the ancient Mesoamerican tradition of sacred mountains, ritual landscapes and the agricultural cycle and have preserved it to this day, despite the efforts of Spanish missionaries after the conquest. This paper deals with the position of mountains within the framework of Nahua ritualism, as it has been preserved in Nahua communities in Central Mexico. The aim is to point out their central role as the structural axis of the Nahua worldview, as places where rituals associated with rainmaking, fertility and the agricultural cycle are performed.

Indigenous Traditional Knowledge on Wild Edible Mushrooms: Cultural Significance, Extraction Practices, and Factors Leading to Changes in Their Abundance in Central Mexico

Wild edible mushrooms (WEM) constitute a relevant component of indigenous cultures worldwide; their use is part of forest management practices that promote conservation by local communities. However, global biocultural diversity is threatened by socioeconomic, political, and cultural changes. Through participatory research, this study analyzes the cultural significance of selected mushroom species, local traditional knowledge about conditions and processes affecting WEM communities, and traditional practices employed in their extraction in an indigenous community in Central Mexico. We carried out ethnomycological hikes and participatory mapping to characterize collection sites and conducted semi-structured interviews with people from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds about the importance of WEM, extraction and conservation sustainable practices, and anthropogenic and environmental factors affecting them. Fifty species of WEM were registered. We developed an index of the cultural importance of WEM that led us to establish the species of the highest cultural relevance. Vegetation type, rainfall, soil composition, selected logging by outsiders, fires, and the use of traditional harvesting techniques were recognized as factors affecting mushroom production. Traditional harvesting techniques locally perceived as adequate include leaving part of the stipe in place, collecting only mushrooms of large size while leaving those of smaller size, and cleaning and shaking them at the place of collection. Results suggest that the prevalence of biocultural knowledge about WEM is influenced by age, main economic activity, and household's distance to the forest. Integrating traditional knowledge and the community context by combining ethnographic and quantitative methods, resulted in a complementary approach to spatial, temporal, and environmental characterization of mushroom collection sites; it also allowed understanding factors influencing WEM cultural significance, and traditional local knowledge of WEM communities and their management.

Attitudes and behaviors of university students during the COVID-19 pandemic in a predominantly Indigenous population in Mexico: a survey study

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has become one of the most devastating worldwide crises. The pandemic has heavily affected the most vulnerable groups, including Indigenous communities. Our study aimed to evaluate the attitudes and behaviors relating to care and prevention of COVID-19 in a predominantly Indigenous university population in Mexico.MethodsA cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in early February 2022 focused on university students in a predominantly Indigenous community in central Mexico. The survey addressed prevention, vaccination, anthropometric data, and food intake.ResultsWe obtained a high response rate of 71.6%, with 981 students (41.2%) identifying as belonging to an Indigenous group. In the sample, 3.1% (95% CI 2.07, 4.33) of the Indigenous group reported COVID-19 deaths among family members older than 18 years; this rate was 3% (95% CI 2.17, 4.03) in the non-Indigenous group. Whereas most of the students [98% (95% CI 97.62, 98.72)] reported having received COVID-19 vaccines, 36.6% (95% CI 33.57, 39.70) and 39.9% (95% CI (37.32, 42.52) of the Indigenous and non-Indigenous respondents, respectively, reported that their parents were fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Finally, we found important differences in weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) between pre-pandemic baseline and two years after confinement in the general population as well as between Indigenous and non-Indigenous: general BMI increased from 22.9 ± 4.1 kg/m2 to 23.6 ± 4.1 kg/m2 (Wilcoxon test; P < 0.001). The BMI for the Indigenous went up from 22.4 ± 3.8 kg/m2 to 23.1 ± 3.8 kg/m2 (Wilcoxon test; P < 0.001), and BMI for non-Indigenous rose from 23.2 ± 4.2 kg/m2 to 24.0 4.2 kg/m2 (Wilcoxon test; P < 0.001).ConclusionOur study highlights significant vaccination disparities between our university population and their parents, although no substantial differences regarding attitudes and prevention of COVID-19 between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations were found. Findings suggest that efforts to expand prevention to students’ families and surrounding communities could lead to significant public health gains and should be further investigated. Furthermore, the university setting may improve access to prevention tools against COVID-19.

Conditions for Multilevel Governance, Co-Management and Sustainability in Two Forest Communities in Central Mexico

Multilevel governance (MLG) and co-management are indispensable to sustainable forest management (SFM) and the maintenance of ecosystem services (ES). Through interviews with key external and community actors and workshops in two ejidos in central Mexico, we qualitatively analyzed information on the historical and current uses of forests and the ways the ejidos evolved toward SFM by implementing MLG regulatory frameworks that enabled forest co-management. By studying the perceptions of local stakeholders and the relevance of their interactions to effective local forest management, we found that the history of forest use in the region has favored the local appropriation of socioecosystems through co-management. However, these principles have not simply led to harmonized development and conservation. Although such technical interventions favor forest productivity in local communities, the stakeholders also recognize that certain adjustments could improve and maintain the local ES. Thus, while the conditions of community forest management in Mexico exemplify how local decision-making processes can be both relatively democratic and ecologically beneficial for local communities, it is also necessary to move from a traditional management model to shared governance in community contexts.

Discrepancies in infant feeding recommendations between grandmothers and healthcare providers in rural Mexico

BackgroundInfant feeding practices are rapidly changing within rural areas in Mexico, including indigenous communities. The aim of this study was to compare infant feeding recommendations between grandmothers and healthcare providers, to better understand the factors that may influence these practices within these communities. This study builds on research that recognizes the legacy of colonization as an ongoing process that impacts the lives of people through many pathways, including the substandard healthcare systems available to them.MethodsQualitative study based on secondary data analysis from interviews and focus groups guided by a socioecological framework conducted in 2018 in two rural, Indigenous communities in Central Mexico. Participants were purposively selected mothers (n = 25), grandmothers (n = 11), and healthcare providers (n = 24) who offered care to children up to two years of age and/or their mothers. Data were coded and thematically analyzed to contrast the different perspectives of infant feeding recommendations and practices between mother, grandmothers, and healthcare providers.ResultsGrandmothers and healthcare providers differed in their beliefs regarding appropriate timing to introduce non-milk foods and duration of breastfeeding. Compared to grandmothers, healthcare providers tended to believe that their recommendations were superior to those from people in the communities and expressed stereotypes reflected in negative attitudes towards mothers who did not follow their recommendations. Grandmothers often passed down advice from previous generations and their own experiences with infant feeding but were also open to learning from healthcare providers through government programs and sharing their knowledge with their daughters and other women. Given the contradictory recommendations from grandmothers and healthcare providers, mothers often were unsure which advice to follow.ConclusionsThere are important differences between grandmothers and healthcare providers regarding infant feeding recommendations. Healthcare providers may perceive their recommendations as superior given the neocolonial structures of the medical system. Public health policies are needed to address the different recommendations mothers receive from different sources, by harmonizing them and following an evidence-informed approach. Breastfeeding programs need to value and to seek the participation of grandmothers.

Is it the plants we know that we use? Unraveling the determining factors of ethnobotanical knowledge in a rural community in Central Mexico

The knowledge and use of plant resources are constantly evolving. In this work, the socio-cultural and economic factors that influence the ethnobotanical knowledge of a mestizo community in Mexico were analyzed, and the correspondence of two cultural indices (use value vs. practical value) was determined to identify the magnitude of the significance and utility of each of the ethnofloristic resources. The study was carried out through semi-structured interviews with 44 local informants. Free lists were applied, and the indexes of use value and practical value were used to document the most culturally important plants.&#x0D; With an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), the differences in botanical knowledge between genera and the effect of socioeconomic covariates on it were evaluated. 223 species were recorded in 54 botanical families and 86 genera, of which 48% were herbs and just over 60% of the total were recorded in homegardens. The Asteraceae family had the highest number of useful species followed by Fabaceae and Rosaceae. Of a total of 10 categories of use, medicinal, food and ornamental plants were the most representative. A weak correspondence was found between the cultural indices at the species level, but there was consistence at the level of use categories. The ANCOVA showed that there is no statistically significant difference between the genders and none of the covariates have a significant influence (p&gt;0.05) on ethnobotanical knowledge. However, there was a consensus between men and women on the importance they give to medicinal and food plants.

Adaptability and resilience to COVID-19: 8 cases of rural tourism in indigenous communities in central Mexico

Adaptability and resilience to COVID-19: 8 cases of rural tourism in indigenous communities in central Mexico

'[The pediatrician] said that maybe my milk, instead of doing good, no longer helped': the ecology of infant formula in rural communities in Central Mexico.

As Mexico continues to develop, an epidemiological and nutritional transition has led to an increase in infant formula use in its rural and indigenous communities. Our objective was to determine the social and cultural factors that influence the use of formula in such populations in Central Mexico. Qualitative study using a data collection instrument based on the socio-ecological framework. Two rural and indigenous communities in Central Mexico. Mothers, fathers, grandparents and healthcare providers. Breast-feeding was favoured in both communities; however, several cultural traditions hindered exclusive breast-feeding. As these communities became more developed, emerging ideas of modernity led to negative connotations about breast-feeding and many mothers began to view formula as a complement for breast-feeding. Formula was seen as a convenient solution for breast pain, insufficient milk and body image. Healthcare providers promoted the use of formula through their own beliefs, information, communication and conflicts of interest with formula industry representatives. The recent social and economic changes in these communities combined with the increased advertising and availability of breast milk substitutes have facilitated the preference for formula. Women in rural, indigenous communities in Central Mexico are increasingly using formula. Efforts at the policy and institutional levels are needed to protect mothers and their children from the detrimental consequences of unregulated formula promotion and the formula culture that it brings with it.

Association of Family Nutrition and Physical Activity with Preschooler's Working Memory: A Cross-Sectional Study among Mexican Children.

Healthy eating and active lifestyles are associated with children’s healthy weight and cognitive development. This study examines whether family behaviors relevant for nutrition and activity levels are associated with children’s working memory, independent of their weight status. A convenience sample of child–caregiver dyads (n = 85 dyads) were recruited from a public preschool serving a low-income community in central Mexico. Caregivers reported the frequency of ten family behaviors using the Family Nutrition and Physical Activity screening tool. Children completed a test of their ability to recall four words after a 60-s distraction task, an assessment of working memory. Multiple linear regression models were used to test the association of children’s working memory with each family behavior, adjusting for children’s sex, age, mother’s age and education, and subjective social status and then also adjusting for children’s age- and sex-specific body mass index percentile (BMI-P) and covariates. Higher frequency of breakfast intake was significantly associated with working memory (β = 0.57, p = 0.013). This association was independent of children’s BMI-P. Other family behaviors (frequent family mealtimes, limiting screen time, and others) were not significantly associated with children’s working memory. Frequent breakfast intake could benefit young children’s working memory, regardless of their weight status. This association merits further investigation.

Exclusive Monotheism and Sahagún’s Mission: The Problem of Universals in the First Book of the Florentine Codex

This article outlines the missionary methods of the Franciscan Bernardino de Sahagún, his interaction with Nahua communities in central Mexico, and the production of a text called the Florentine Codex. This article argues that the philosophical problem of universals, whether “common natures” existed and whether they existed across all cultures, influenced iconoclastic arguments about Nahua gods and idolatry. Focusing on the Florentine Codex Book 1 and its Appendix, containing a description of Nahua gods and their refutation, the article establishes how Sahagún and his team contended with the concept of universals as shaped by Nahua history and religion. This article presents the Florentine Codex Book 1 as a case study that points to larger patterns in the Christian religion, its need for mission, and its construal of true and false religion.

SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF MYCOLOGICAL CULINARY HERITAGE AS A TOURIST RESOURCE AND ITS DIMENSIONS OF SUSTAINABILITY

Purpose. To identify contributions to the sustainability of the territory from the tourist uses of mycological culinary heritage, within the context of late capitalism. Method. Multiple case studies with a qualitative and exploratory approach. No probabilistic sampling by snowball technique and validation by saturation criterion, to develop multiple perspectives through triangulation strategy. Semi-structured interviews (N = 24) applied to key informants around the practice of mycological tourism. Findings. The cases studied showed evidence of the contributions that mycological tourism can generate in the economic, environmental and social dimensions of sustainable development. However, the capacity of these very specific initiatives for their incorporation into major development strategies is not clear. There is the ambivalence between the preservation of heritage and its economic use, related to the hedonistic and experiential logic of late capitalism. Research and conclusions limitations. This is a case study only recovering the internal perspective of some communities in central Mexico that participate in mycological tourism strategies. Practical implications. Qualitative studies that provide a deep vision regarding tourism experience of rural communities are a useful source of information for the design of public policies that meet the real needs of their users and to propose development strategies, based on the characteristics of each context. Originality. The articulation between tourism based on wild foods and sustainability, from a critical and qualitative perspective. Type of paper. Research article.

Environmental Conflicts Related to Urban Expansion Involving Agrarian Communities in Central Mexico

Rural territories and cultures have been increasingly sacrificed through depopulation, invasion by infrastructure, and the presence of industries which are incompatible with agriculture. Meanwhile, the expansion of urban space through demographic agglomeration and the concentration of activities in cities is leading to a progressively urbanised world. This article sheds light on the particularities of the relationship between urban expansion and the assault on agrarian modes of existence that survive at the diffuse urban frontiers in Central Mexico. A multiple case study was carried out; nine social-environmental conflicts where an agrarian community resisted the installation of urban infrastructure or city enterprises were analysed through the perspective of Political Ecology and environmental justice. Peasant communities question the political, economic, environmental, and cultural factors of the hegemonic social configuration as urban megaprojects menace their territory. In their struggles, they highlight that urban development undermines the very conditions necessary for the existence of the city, as its social metabolism depends in part on the resources these rural communities are defending.

Uso tradicional de la fitodiversidad de los bosques de &lt;i&gt;Pinus hartwegii&lt;/i&gt; en dos comunidades mexicanas de alta montaña

Se registra el conocimiento tradicional de las plantas útiles en los bosques de Pinus hartwegii, un ecosistema importante que marca el límite altitudinal de la vegetación arbórea en México y que brinda importantes servicios ambientales por ser cabecera de cuencas hidrológicas. El estudio se realizó en dos comunidades rurales de alta montaña en el centro de México: Ranchería Las Palomas (RLP) en el Estado de México y San José Pilancón (SJP) en el estado de Veracruz. Se usó el método de consenso de informantes y se hicieron entrevistas semiestructuradas al 10 % de la población, recorridos botánicos, análisis de datos del Índice de Valor de Uso (IVU) y riqueza de plantas. Se encontraron 51 especies útiles en RLP y 46 especies en SJP, así como nueve categorías de uso en RLP y once en SJP. El IVU coincidió en las dos comunidades, donde el pino-ocote (P. hartwegii) fue la especie más importante (1,9 RLP y 1,2 SJP). Se encontraron 24 especies en común, 16 coinciden con los nombres comunes y usos, pero ocho especies tuvieron nombres y usos diferentes. De manera general, para las localidades estudiadas, se pudo reconocer que el conocimiento tradicional sobre las plantas útiles se resguarda en la población adulta y del sexo femenino. Se espera que este estudio sea una base para la valoración y conservación del conocimiento tradicional y la fitodiversidad de este tipo de bosques, tanto por las comunidades locales, así como por autoridades en temas ambientales.

Humedales artificiales para el desarrollo comunitario: el caso de una comunidad Mazahua de México

Los humedales artificiales son sistemas socio-ecológicos que proporcionan beneficios ambientales, sociales y económicos a los grupos humanos que los rodean. Los humedales se componen de elementos naturales como el agua, la vegetación, el suelo, entre otros. Además, de elementos humanos como la fuerza de trabajo humano, para su mantenimiento, la organización social, necesaria para el aprovechamiento de los beneficios, y de reglas de operación sobre el uso y manejo del agua. En este artículo los autores analizamos el caso de un humedal artificial localizado en una comunidad de origen indígena del centro de México. Este humedal existe desde hace dos décadas y fue construido por iniciativa de un grupo de indígenas mazahuas y una fundación orientada al mejoramiento de las sociedades vulnerables. Para realizar la investigación que sustenta este artículo se utilizó una metodología cualitativa, apoyada en la técnica de la entrevista. Los resultados de la investigación indican que la relación entre la fundación y la comunidad indígena fue exitosa, debido a que la creación y operación del humedal artificial es un ejemplo de la confianza, reciprocidad e interés por alcanzar un desarrollo local.

The Use of Dye Plants in a Mazahua Community in Central Mexico

The use of dye plants is part of the cultural inheritance of Santa Rosa de Lima, Mexico. Numerous dye plants are present in the region, but women mainly use indigo and cochineal to dye wool for making traditional clothing. A comparative study was conducted to identify changes in the use of natural dyes between 1995 and 2017. A bibliographic review identified 29 potential dye species in the region. A catalog of 149 samples of dyed wool was created using these species and was presented to 11 local women to evaluate their willingness to use different natural dyes. Despite the existence of various dye species in the region, the women preferred indigo and cochineal because these dyes form part of their cultural identity. The women were aware of only five regional dye species, dodder, dahlia, Mexican marigold, sunflower, and bush sunflower, which are used to create yellow, orange, and green colors. The collection of wild dye plants has decreased over time, and these plants have been increasingly substituted by Mexican marigold. However, the women showed interest in using nine of the 29 species in the catalog and in selling handmade textiles, even though this artisanal activity has not been developed up to the present date.

Exposure to Violence, Coping Strategies, and Diagnosed Mental Health Problems Among Adults in a Migrant-Sending Community in Central Mexico

Deadly violence has spread throughout Mexico, affecting the well-being of citizens. What is the impact of this violence on the daily lives of Mexican adults? Building upon the stress process model, we used a mixed-methods approach to examine relationships between multiple indicators of exposure to and fear of violence and four diagnosed mental health outcomes, as well as self-rated mental health, in a Mexican community using the Survey of Health and Mexican Migration (456 surveys; 49 interviews). The multivariate models provide evidence that perceptions of insecurity are associated with diagnosed depressive episode, agoraphobia, alcohol abuse, a total count of mental health conditions, and poor self-rated mental health. Past victimization is associated with anxiety. Stress and coping behaviors did not formally mediate these violence–mental illness associations. The qualitative results confirm that residents fear violence and cope by adjusting their personal behaviors. These results foreshadow the emergence of mental health conditions as a critical public health concern for Mexicans living under the threat of violence.

Insect Visitors to the Annual Plant Community in a Xeric Environment in Central Mexico

The interactions between the plant community and their floral visitors might vary through space, causing changes in the structure and composition of the communities of floral visitors. Although numerous studies have addressed the variation in the communities of floral visitors through space, none of them have analyzed how the structure of the community of floral visitors for all the co-flowering annual plant species changes between sites. We describe how the community of floral visitors to annual plants varies through space in a xeric community in central Mexico. We collected all the insects visiting the flowers of the annual plants growing in 2 sites with contrasting plant density (low vs. high). We determined species richness, abundance, and diversity for the insect communities in each site. We established the similarity in the composition of the insect communities and the importance of environmental variables on the dynamics of the communities of floral visitors. Abundance and diversity of floral visitors were significantly higher in the low plant density site. The composition of the insect communities differed between sites (similarity = 32%). Changes in abundance of a few groups of insects seem to be related to environmental factors such as disturbance (Myrmecocystus mexicanus Wesmael [Hymenoptera: Formicidae] and Tiphiidae sp. 1 [Hymenoptera]), humidity (Curculionidae sp. 1 [Coleoptera]), and temperature (Dorymyrmex grandulus (Forel) [Hymenoptera: Formicidae]). Our results indicate that vegetation density has a strong effect on the community of floral visitors of annual plants, which in turn, might affect their reproduction and their interactions with other organisms within the ecosystem. ResumenLas interacciones entre las comunidades vegetales y sus visitadores florales pueden variar en el espacio, ocasionando diferencias en la estructura y composicion de las comunidades de insectos visitadores. Aunque diversos estudios han analizado la variacion espacial en las comunidades de visitadores florales, ninguno ha estudiado dicha variacion en la estructura de la comunidad de visitadores florales de toda la comunidad de especies anuales coexistentes. En este estudio se describe la variacion espacial en la comunidad de visitadores florales de la comunidad de plantas anuales de una zona xerica en la region central de Mexico. Se colectaron los insectos que visitaban las flores de las especies anuales que crecian en 2 sitios con densidad vegetal contrastante (baja vs. alta). Se determino la riqueza especifica, la abundancia, y el indice de diversidad de la comunidad de insectos en cada sitio. Se estimo la similitud en la composicion de las comunidades de insectos asi como la importancia de variables ambientales sobre la dinamica de las comunidades de visitadores florales. La abundancia y la diversidad de visitadores florales fueron significativamente mayores en el sitio con baja densidad vegetal. La composicion de las comunidades de insectos fue distinta entre sitios (similitud = 32%). La abundancia de unos cuantos grupos de insectos parece responder a factores ambientales como el disturbio (Myrmecocystus mexicanus Wesmael [Hymenoptera: Formicidae] y Tiphiidae sp. 1 [Hymenoptera]), la humedad (Curculionidae sp. 1 [Coleoptera]), y la temperatura (Dorymyrmex grandulus (Forel) [Hymenoptera: Formicidae]). Los resultados sugieren que la densidad vegetal tiene fuertes efectos sobre la comunidad de visitadores florales de las plantas anuales, lo que a su vez puede afectar su reproduccion y las interacciones con otros organismos dentro del ecosistema.View this article in BioOne

Impact of caries and dental fluorosis on oral health-related quality of life: a cross-sectional study in schoolchildren receiving water naturally fluoridated at above-optimal levels.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of caries and fluorosis on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among schoolchildren living in areas with high concentrations of fluoride in water. Five hundred and twenty-four schoolchildren (8-12year olds) residing in rural communities in central Mexico were examined for oral hygiene, caries (International Caries Detection and Assessment System, ICDAS II), and fluorosis (Thylstrup and Fejerskov Index, TFI). OHRQoL was evaluated with the Child Perceptions Questionnaire for two age groups (CPQ8-10 and CPQ11-14). Generalized structural equation models were constructed for data analysis. Overall prevalence of caries was 88.5% and fluorosis 46.9%. In the group of 8-10year olds, 48% of the children had advanced carious lesions in primary or permanent teeth (ICDAS ≥4), 22.6% had moderate/severe fluorosis, and 59.9% of children had an impact on OHRQoL. Schoolchildren with ICDAS ≥4 were more likely [OR=1.75, (95% CI 1.34-2.28)] to suffer a negative impact on OHRQoL. In the group of 11-12year olds, 19.9% of children had advanced carious lesions and 23.2% showed moderate/severe fluorosis; 67.3% of children reported had an impact on OHRQoL. Children 11-12year olds with fluorosis (TFI ≥4) [OR=2.39 (95% CI 2.12-2.69)], caries (ICDAS ≥4) [OR=2.18 (95% CI 2.13-2.24)], and low brushing frequency [OR=2.04 (95% CI 1.21-3.44)] were more likely to have deterioration on OHRQoL. A negative impact on OHRQoL was observed in children with caries and fluorosis. Deterioration on OHRQoL found in children as a sequel of caries and fluorosis should be considered when designing health policies leading to prevention and effective health promotion programs and incorporated to clinical guidelines for timely dental treatment.

Awareness of language: literacy and second language learning of Spanish in Mexico

ABSTRACTThis report presents findings from a follow-up exploratory study of the development of writing ability in an attempt to identify key component skills and competencies for elementary school literacy learners, grades 2nd, 4th and 6th. The first evaluation consisted in scoring first draft narrative texts for coherence, the second, an assessment of effective self-correction strategies. These two measures were compared to the results of a third test, of metalinguistic awareness related to children’s ability to distinguish between the two languages that they know, and those of a fourth measure of orthographic knowledge. Participants were bilingual elementary school students from an indigenous community in Central Mexico. Results point to important opportunities in future research for the understanding of how metalinguistic awareness is related to literacy learning.