Public Policies In Mexico Research Articles

The Mental Health Provider Shortage in the Mexican Public Sector: 2023 estimates of psychiatrists and psychologists

Introduction. Mental health has historically been overlooked in public policies in Mexico, with up to 80% of people with mental health and substance-related disorders in Mexico lacking adequate care. Objective. To characterize the mental health provider (psychiatrists and psychologists) shortage in the Mexican public sector. Method. Descriptive study. Data from SINERHIAS (Ministry of Health of Mexico) up to the first half of 2023 were analyzed. Results. A total of 1,504 psychiatrists worked in the public sector (1.1 per 100,000 population). The Health Ministry (Secretaría de Salud; Spanish acronym SS) employed 55.9%, IMSS 25.9%, ISSSTE 7.2%, while 1.0% were affiliated to other public institutions. There were 8,668 psychologists in the public sector (6.9 per 100,000 population), of which the SS employed 78.9%, IMSS 6.3%, ISSSTE 2.4%, while 12.3% worked at other public institutions. Thirty-four per cent of psychiatrists were in Mexico City, while 21 states, accounting for 70% of the population, had one psychiatrist or fewer per 100,000 population. Hospital units employed 83.3% of psychiatrists. Discussion. Mexico has an insufficient number of mental health providers at public institutions, with disparities between states and most providers affiliated to hospital units. Conclusion. There is an acute mental health provider shortage in the Mexican public sector, together with limited resources for community mental health care, affecting the treatment of mental health and substance use disorders.

Turismo rural en México. Una trazabilidad histórica y socioestructural en las ruralidades

The objective of this article is to address the historical contextualisation of rural tourism in Mexico, within the framework of socio-structural change and its territorial manifestations. Analysis was applied from the theoretical-methodological perspective of problem-history posed by Erik Hobsbawm, who focuses his analytical interest on the history of structures and transformations in societies and cultures. It was concluded that, although several authors have made historical traceability on the deployment of public policies in Mexico, which impacted on agrarian and tourism issues, it is still necessary to focus on the communities where these interventions took place and account for the changes and modifications that have been generated as a result of the new economic dynamics inserted in the territory, which gave rise to the so-called New Ruralities.

Economic Convergence in the Mexico-United States Cross-border Region: A Post-crisis Analysis 2010–2019

ABSTRACT This research aims to estimate the σ and β convergence hypotheses for the period following the 2008 crisis (2010–2019) in the states of the Mexico-United States border region. The objective is to determine whether the disparities in per capita income have decreased during that period. Panel and spatial panel methodologies are employed to confirm the β-convergence hypotheses, taking into account heterogeneity, spatial dependence, and the endowment of human capital as conditioning factors. The σ-convergence is estimated using standard deviation. The results indicate the presence of σ-convergence and conditional β-convergence. However, a higher endowment of human capital does not necessarily lead to increased convergence rates due to existing differences between the two economies. In conclusion, there is a need to formulate public policies in Mexico that promote educational attainment among the population residing in the northern border region.

Weight Gain After 12 Months of Switching to Bictegravir/Emtricitabine/Tenofovir Alafenamide in Virologically Suppressed HIV Patients.

Recent studies suggest that the introduction of antiretroviral agents such as integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTI) may lead to weight gain in people living with HIV (PLHIV). In this retrospective observational study, we report the weight changes observed in virologically suppressed HIV patients after 12 months of switching to bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (BIC/F/TAF) due to a national change in public policy in Mexico. Patients on prior regimens based on TDF/FTC or ABC/3TC plus non-nucleoside retrotranscriptase inhibitor, INSTI, or protease inhibitor were included. In the 399 patients analyzed, a significant weight increase was found, as well as an increase in body mass index (BMI), total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), glucose, creatinine, and CD4+ cells after 12 months of switching treatment (all p ≤ .001). Mean weight gain was 1.63 kg [confidence interval (95% CI): 1.14-2.11], whereas the average percentage of weight gained was 2.5% (95% CI: 1.83-3.17). After considering the confounding effect of baseline weight status, the change in weight and BMI did not present significant differences between any of the prior treatment schemes. In conclusion, PLHIV switching to BIC/F/TAF therapy experienced weight gain after the first year of switching treatment. Although this weight gain could be due to the switch in treatment regimen, it cannot be excluded that it was caused by other factors since no comparable control group could be used for comparison.

Bird conservation status and cultural values in Indigenous Mexican communities: towards a bioculturally informed conservation policy

BackgroundWe summarize comparative ethnoornithological data for ten Mexican Indigenous communities, an initial step towards a comprehensive archive of the avian diversity conserved within Mexico’s Indigenous territories. We do so by counting highlighted species listed for bird conservation status on widely recognized “red lists” and their cultural value to build biocultural policies in Mexico for their conservation.MethodsIndigenous bird names for each study site were determined to allow calculation of the “Scientific Species Recognition Ratio” (SSRR) for high cultural value birds obtained across communities. This demonstrated patterns of cultural prominence. A matrix of 1275 bird versus seven biocultural values was analysed using a correspondence analysis (InfoStat/L-v2020) to illustrate patterns of concordance between bird conservation status and cultural values.ResultsThis paper contributes to quantitative and qualitative data on the role of ethnoornithology and ethnobiology in biocultural conservation. The areas studied provide refugia for almost 70% of the Mexican avifauna within a fraction of 1% of the national territory, that is 769 bird species recorded for all communities. The global correspondence of regions of biological and linguistic megadiversity is well established, while linguistic diversity is widely accepted as a good proxy for general cultural diversity. Our correspondence analysis explained 81.55% of the variation, indicating a strong relation between cultural importance and bird conservation status. We propose three main categories to establish a bioculturally informed public policy in Mexico for the conservation of what we described as high, medium, and bioculturally prominent bird species all include cultural value in any material or symbolic aspect. High are those species appearing on any threatened list, but also considered in any endemic status, while medium include threatened listed species. The last category included species not necessarily listed on any threat list, but with a wide range of social and cultural uses. We suggest that the concept might be extended to other species of biocultural importance.ConclusionsWe argue that bird conservation policies should be biocultural, that is they should recognize birds of cultural value on a par with bird species “of special interest” because they are most critical for biodiversity conservation. The desire of local people to protect their traditional community lands and livelihoods can be an effective biodiversity conservation strategy, which should be recognized in national biocultural policies.

Educación, derechos humanos y migración de retorno en México: el caso del estado de Hidalgo

Return migration has acquired relevance among scholars in Mexico, a fact attributable to a historical increase in migration dynamics, particularly with the United States. In the last few years, the issue of Mexican returnees has severely intensified as a result of restrictive immigration policies in the receiving countries. This paper aims to explore the problem faced by Mexican returnees when they try to access the national education system through the lens of transnational migration, first by discussing the available literature on return migration in Mexico and then through a qualitative approach based on a documental review of public policies in Mexico and in the state of Hidalgo aimed towards educational inclusion. Finally, our findings suggest that Mexican authorities have deployed a number of merely palliative policies that so far have not achieved their aims.

Beyond words: From jaguar population trends to conservation and public policy in Mexico.

The jaguar (Panthera onca) is one of the most threatened carnivores in the Americas. Despite a long history of research on this charismatic species, to date there have been few systematic efforts to assess its population size and status in most countries across its distribution range. We present here the results of the two National Jaguar Surveys for Mexico, the first national censuses in any country within the species distribution. We estimated jaguar densities from field data collected at 13 localities in 2008–2010 (2010 hereafter) and 11 localities in 2016–2018 (2018 hereafter). We used the 2010 census results as the basis to develop a National Jaguar Conservation Strategy that identified critical issues for jaguar conservation in Mexico. We worked with the Mexican government to implement the conservation strategy and then evaluated its effectivity. To compare the 2010 and 2018 results, we estimated the amount of jaguar-suitable habitat in the entire country based on an ecological niche model for both periods. Suitable jaguar habitat covered ~267,063 km2 (13.9% of the country’s territory) in 2010 and ~ 288,890 km2 (~14.8% of the country’s territory) in 2018. Using the most conservative density values for each priority region, we estimated jaguar densities for both the high and low suitable habitats. The total jaguar population was estimated in ~4,000 individuals for 2010 census and ~4,800 for the 2018 census. The Yucatan Peninsula was the region with the largest population, around 2000 jaguars, in both censuses. Our promising results indicate that the actions we proposed in the National Jaguar Conservation Strategy, some of which have been implemented working together with the Federal Government, other NGO’s, and land owners, are improving jaguar conservation in Mexico. The continuation of surveys and monitoring programs of the jaguar populations in Mexico will provide accurate information to design and implement effective, science-based conservation measures to try to ensure that robust jaguar populations remain a permanent fixture of Mexico’s natural heritage.

TORTILLAS MADE WITH EXTRUDED FLOURS OF BLUE MAIZE AND CHÍA SEEDS AS AN NUTRITIOUS AND NUTRACEUTICAL FOOD OPTION

Tortillas with adequate nutrients and phytochemicals as a recommended option may improve health in older adults. In this research tortillas were prepared with native blue maize (Zea mays L.) and chía (Salvia hispanica) seeds processed by alkaline extrusion. The hypothesis was that alkaline extrusion would generate flours of both seeds with improved nutraceutical and nutritional characteristics compared to traditional products. The aim was then to evaluate extruded defatted chía flour addition on nutritional and nutraceutical properties of tortillas made with extruded native blue maize flour. Tortillas were prepared with a mixture 75% extruded blue maize flour +25% extruded defatted chía flour. Other tortillas from 100% extruded blue maize flour and commercial lime-cooked maize flour (Blue MASECA®) were used as control and reference. Nutritional, antioxidant, antihypertensive and hypoglycaemic properties of tortillas were evaluated in vitro. A completely randomized experimental design with one factor (type of tortilla) was used for data analysis. Tortillas added with extruded chía flour had higher protein, dietary fibre, essential amino acid (EAA) profile, in vitro protein digestibility (IVPD), and calculated protein efficiency ratio (C-PER) than control and reference tortillas. Tortillas with addition of extruded chía flour also had better antioxidant activity [oxygen radical absorbance capacity, (ORAC) 18006 vs 15531 Trolox equivalent, (TE) μmol per 100g of dry weight, (DW) sample], and better antihypertensive [(ACE) angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition, IC50=0.47 vs 0.65 extract mg mL-1] and hypoglycaemic (IC50=20.07 vs 25.81 extract mg mL-1 to α-amylase inhibition, and IC50=16.25 vs 19.69 extract mg mL-1 to α-glucosidase inhibition) potential than tortillas from 100% extruded blue maize flour. The use of extruded chía flour and blue maize flour allowed obtaining tortillas with enhanced nutritional, antioxidant, antihypertensive, and hypoglycaemic properties. The extrusion process consumes few water volumes without generating polluting effluents. An appropriate public policy in Mexico may promote these tortillas to be used to fight against malnutrition, and to reduce incidences of chronic degenerative diseases such as hypertension or diabetes.

La participación social y ciudadana en México en el contexto actual

 For more than three decades, citizen participation has appeared as a key element in the elaboration, implementation, and evaluation of public policies in Mexico. However, on repeated occasions this importance has been much more discursive than real. As part of the theoretical paradigms that have guided the work of government, New Public Management (NPM) and Governance are of fundamental importance. In both perspectives, citizen participation plays a relevant role, but its definition and scope are substantially different; In this text, we analyze the differences involved in choosing one or the other alternative. The conditions of the current context, which combines the health crisis with a form of government that tends to concentrate decisions, creates challenges for citizen participation that we must analyze. The intention is to propose a reflection on the options that lead us to a qualitatively better participation.

Vinculando ciencia y política pública La Ley de Aguas Nacionales desde las perspectivas sistémica y de servicios ecosistémicos

From a theoretical model integrated by the socioecological systems and ecosystem services approaches, we discuss the relations between science and public policy in Mexico. Through the study of Mexico’s main water resource management instrument, the National Waters Law, we underline the progressive efforts made to integrate a range of scientific knowledge into public policy-making processes. However, both public policy-making and the generation of regulatory frameworks do not always evolve at the same rate as science, and vice versa. The challenge is how institutions and governmental authorities adapt at the same time as the production of scientific knowledge progresses. Public policy design and formulation need to be adapted in tandem with science itself

Public Policies for the Development of Agroecosystems Resilient to Climate Change

Objective: Analyze public policies in Mexico facing climate change in agriculture that allow the development of resilient agroecosystems. Design/methodology/approach: An analysis of research on resilience to climate change in the agricultural and rural sectors, as well as analysis of literature on public policies formulated to climate change in the agricultural sector (period 2013-2019), was realized. Results: Multiple sources of resilience for agroecosystems are present. Policies could be oriented to identify such sources and to strengthen capacities according to different scales and contexts. There is the possibility of considering factors associated with the evolution of these systems to employ strategies that are consistent and that allow coordination between political levels. Limitations of the study/Implications: This is a theoretical study restricted to the available literature published until 2019. Findings/Conclusions: Public policies require integrating the perspective of the dynamics of the complex agricultural system and the multiple sources of resilience at different scales and contexts, articulating the development of resilient agroecosystems to climate change.

Application of Principal Component Analysis as a Technique to Obtain a Social Vulnerability Index for the Design of Public Policies in Mexico

The phenomenon of social vulnerability is understood as the set of limitations or disadvantages to access a quality life. This work aims to obtain a Social Vulnerability Index at the municipal level in Mexico, using the principal component analysis technique (Yengle, 2012; Ruano, 2015; Olivares, 2014; Borja-Vega & de la Fuente, 2013; Rueda-Torres & Gonzalez-Longatt, 2018), 12 indicators were calculated, organized into three categories: sociodemographic, socioeconomic and habitat, typical of each territorial space in Mexico, to know the factors that determine social disadvantages in the population. The results show that food poverty, heritage poverty and educational backwardness are the main factors that affect social vulnerability, which highlight the need to design specific public policies, through a process of articulation and coherence with the different social actors, in order to contribute to closing subnational social gaps and developing the endogenous capacities of the territories so that they have an impact on the social development of the country.

The influence of the sugar-sweetened beverage industry on public policies in Mexico.

The objective of this study was to map and describe the different corporate political activity (CPA) strategies used by the sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) industry to influence public health policymaking geared toward decreasing the consumption of SSB in Mexico. We applied an existing approach to identify and monitor the CPA of the SSB industry. A documentary analysis was conducted for two main actors in the SSB industry, for the period 2017-2019, and was triangulated with eleven semi-structured interviews with key informants in public health nutrition and from the SSB industry. The information was analyzed using an existing framework for categorizing the CPA. Although data were found for six CPA strategies, the SSB industry mainly highlighted its economic importance and spoke openly against the 2014 SSB tax. We documented the industry's relationships with governmental bodies and civil society actors to promote corporate social responsibility and gain public support. The SSB industry in Mexico uses a variety of strategies, directly or through third parties, to influence public policies related to the prevention and control of obesity and non-communicable diseases.

El extensionismo rural mexicano: análisis coyuntural con enfoque de políticas públicas

Con el objetivo de contribuir al conocimiento de los resultados de la política pública de extensionismo rural en México, se analizó el grado de adopción de nuevas tecnologías y desarrollo de capacidades entre los beneficiarios según diferentes atributos y características de sus unidades de producción. Se utilizó la encuesta nacional a beneficiarios 2014 del sistema de monitoreo y evaluación del componente de extensión e innovación productiva, la cual recolectó información en diez estados de la república y su tamaño muestral ascendió a 1 062 cuestionarios. Se calculó el índice de adopción de nuevas tecnologías y desarrollo de capacidades y se encontró que -al contrario de lo que plantea el paradigma modernizador sobre el que se sustenta la política de extensionismo nacional- los pequeños productores no son la población prioritaria para una política orientada a resultados sino aquellos con ingresos y activos productivos medios. Se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre el valor promedio del índice y variables como sexo, edad, escolaridad, superficie e inversión en activos de la unidad de producción, ello permite establecer estrategias específicas para promover una política pública de extensionismo diferenciada, centrada en evidencia empírica a nivel de unidad de producción.

The Measurement of Well‐Being Caught between Tradition and Modernity in Mexico’s Poverty Reduction Strategy

In today’s Mexico, more than half of the population lives in a state of precariousness. This reality highlights the dilemma between maintaining a traditional scheme of poverty reduction which assumes that human needs can be solved economically, with only limited success, or promoting a contemporary model of subjective well‐being that has not yet proven its effectiveness. The main test facing both approaches is operational, hence agreeing on a method of identification and aggregation of the affected population is a key element for designing public policies that can sustain true well‐being; a second aspect has to do with the coherence between theoretical ground and methodological design. Either way, measurement of well‐being and identification of human needs pose an important challenge for public policies in Mexico, where poverty has been consistently underestimated. Thus, there is an urgent need for rethinking the social model of public policy in favor of a pro‐poor vision.

Hacia la transterritorialización de la política pública de videovigilancia en México

Hacia la transterritorialización de la política pública de videovigilancia en México

The legal regulation of the H2 as a strategy for public policy in Mexico from the consolidation of the National Council of the hydrogen

Abstract There are few efforts have been made to translate the theoretical contributions of hydrogen technology in to public policy schemes. This problem is reflected in the lack of an effective public policies in Mexico, which, despite the efforts to be placed on the boom of the hydrogen economy, that continues to legal bias and little social recognition. The main objective of the research was to analyze the Mexican legal framework for H2 regulation and Mexican public policies that consider H2 as an energy source. Thus far, the H2 has not been incorporated as an alternative energy source, because does not exist Regulation of storage and also there is a lack of regulations to regulate H2 in final applications, as is the case of fuel cell and it is observed that there is no regulation for safety and properties relevant to H2. Is appropriate to propose Public policy strategy with the creation of the National Hydrogen Council.

Competing actors in the climate change arena in Mexico: A network analysis

This paper analyzes the actors in the climate change arena and their influence in directing Mexico toward policies that decrease greenhouse gas emissions, such as the carbon tax and climate change law. The network analysis of the agreement of these laws and public policies in Mexico is a lesson for any country that is in the process of designing and adopting environmental laws. The research is performed using a network analysis that is derived from interviews with various main actors and a discourse analysis of the media. Results show that actors do not coordinate their efforts—they meet frequently but in different inter-ministerial commissions—and do not enforce the same policies. The actors in the industry have formed strong coalitions against the carbon tax and the General Law on Climate Change, whereas international institutions have formed coalitions that support these policies and laws.

Virtudes y Contradicciones de las Políticas Educativas e Culturales en México: Fuente de la Vulnerabilidad de los Docentes en Artes

Over the years, public policies in Mexico have been consistent with international treaties on education and culture.However, its observance and compliance has been deficient, particularly in relation to arts education in basic education,since it is considered a peripheral area and a non-priority within the school curriculum. This adverse context generateshigh levels of vulnerability and uncertainty for arts teachers. This article presents a brief analysis of public policies, theirvirtues, but also their contradictions, and how our educational context continues to perpetuate the vulnerability of artteachers, when priorities and decisions of educational authorities contradict those policies and their job stability, indetriment of quality in education.

The fight against overweight and obesity in school children: Public policy in Mexico.

Excess weight in schoolchildren is a serious health problem in Mexico. In 2010, the government established General Guidelines for Dispensing or Distribution of Foods and Beverages at School Food Establishments (SFEs) in Elementary Schools with the objective of stopping the epidemic of overweight and obesity. This study aimed to evaluate compliance with the Guidelines during two academic years. With a sample of 39 schools already randomly selected, we carried out a follow-up study. The research team recorded foods and beverages available at schools in two academic years, and compared their nutritional characteristics to those established in the Guidelines. At the schools in both stages of the study, we found broad availability of energy-dense foods not allowed in the SFEs. Vegetables, fruits, and plain water accounted for less than 7per cent of the foods and drinks. We observed no changes between stages in the compliance the Guidelines.