Rural Communities In Mexico Research Articles

Bridging the Gap: Conceptual and Empirical Dimensions of Child Wellbeing in Rural Mexico

While conceptualizations of child wellbeing usually include multiple dimensions and complex notions, measurements of child wellbeing often tend to be simpler. This mismatch between concepts and measurements is often rooted in a limitation in the instruments that were originally conceived to assess child wellbeing. This paper aims to help in closing this gap by proposing a model that measures child wellbeing in a multi-dimensional way. With the aid of structural equation modeling (SEM), the model examines the physical health, cognitive ability, motor co-ordination, and emotional competence of around 2,000 children aged four to 6 years in poor rural communities in Mexico. Data is extracted from the Household Evaluation Survey-2003 (Encuesta de Evaluacion de Hogares, ENCEL-2003). This paper concludes that further investments in the measurement of child wellbeing are needed, particularly in relation to subjective wellbeing, time use, and the role of children within the household and in society. Nevertheless, while more data is collected, this paper also concludes that SEM appears to be a great aid in exploring multiple dimensions of child wellbeing simultaneously.

La Escuela de Salud Pública de México: su fundación y primera época, 1922-1945

This article analyzes the foundation of the Public Health School of Mexico, which first opened its doors in March 1922. It presents the different circumstances which obliged the sanitary authorities to create and promote the School, based on the historic and educational context of the time. The struggle for disease eradication and the promotion of a culture of prevention among the Mexican population of the time made it necessary to train sanitarians who would contribute to the National Reconstruction period. This trend continued until 1945, when social medicine started to be considered as a flag of action in the field of disease prevention, which promoted actions and policies focused on the rural communities of Mexico.

Seroepidemiology of Helicobacter pylori Infection in a Mennonite Community in Durango State, Mexico

The epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori infection among Mennonites (an ethnic group of German descent living in rural communities in Mexico) has not been previously studied. The prevalence of anti-H. pylori IgG antibodies was examined in 152 Mennonite individuals in Durango State, Mexico, using enzyme-linked immunoassays. Seroprevalence association with sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioral characteristics of the Mennonite community was also investigated. In total, 77 (50.7%) of the 152 Mennonite participants (mean age, 38.4 ± 15.5 years) had H. pylori IgG antibodies, 35 (45.4%) of whom had H. pylori IgG antibody levels higher than 100 U/mL. Males and females had comparable seroprevalence rates of H. pylori and H. pylori IgG antibody levels. On the other hand, seroprevalence of H. pylori increased significantly with age and was significantly higher among women with history of deliveries and abortions than among those with no such obstetric characteristics. Logistic regression analysis of behavioral characteristics showed that H. pylori infection was associated with a low frequency of eating at restaurants and at fast food outlets (up to 10 times/year) (OR = 2.77; 95% CI: 1.28-5.98; p = .009), and eating meat (up to 3 days/week) (OR = 2.84; 95% CI: 1.36-5.91; p = .005). This is the first report on the seroprevalence of H. pylori among Mennonites, factors contributing to such infection, and the association of H. pylori infection with abortions and low frequencies of eating out of home and meat. Further research should be conducted on this topic.

Becoming a migrant: aspirations of youths during their transition to adulthood in rural Mexico

This article explores young people's transitions to adulthood in a rural community in Mexico. The focus is on participants' migration experiences and the premise is that migration can be understood as an alternative way of inclusion found by the rural youth which is strongly determined by individuals' agency. The article explores the role played by place, class and agency in the migration experiences of this community and closely examines the aspirations and migration opportunities of two teenagers. Results indicate that the lack of opportunities in their localities together with the role played by peer groups and youngsters' own desire for financial independence seem to be determinant factors that stimulate youth in transition's decision to migrate.

89 Effect of greeen LED light on the injured nerve in the experiment

Low engagement with mental health treatment, including a lack of help-seeking and low subsequent attendance to treatment, are important challenges to the provision of mental healthcare. In settings with high levels of poverty, such as rural Mexican communities, low engagement may be aggravated by the limited availability of mental health services and existing barriers to access these services. This qualitative study was conducted to investigate factors that influenced engagement to a primary care mental health service programme in Chiapas, Mexico.We conducted 30 semi-structured interviews with adult service users diagnosed with depression or anxiety who had received mental health services at 10 primary care clinics in rural communities in Mexico. Interviews were analysed through the framework analysis approach to understand service user perspectives on factors influencing: (a) help-seeking, and (b) subsequent treatment attendance.Lack of attribution of symptoms to a mental illness, the perception that symptoms could be managed without treatment, and stigma hindered help-seeking. Perceived need for care, prompted by strong feelings of desperation and severe somatic symptoms, along with advice from trusted sources about the availability of relevant services at the primary health care clinics, were key incentives for service users to make their first contact with the clinics. An ongoing desire for symptom alleviation and satisfaction with services (e.g. due to the positive impact of treatment) improved subsequent attendance, while feeling that treatment was no longer necessary and structural barriers led to non-attendance.Strategies to enhance understandings between service users and health care providers are necessary to improve the extent to which the needs and preferences of service users are met by healthcare services. Further improvements in the mental health of communities are likely to require interventions outside the health setting that tackle social risk factors affecting mental health.

90 Use of laser and light on the regulation of growth factors and inflammatory mediators involved in oligodendrocyte maturation and function and myelin repair

Low engagement with mental health treatment, including a lack of help-seeking and low subsequent attendance to treatment, are important challenges to the provision of mental healthcare. In settings with high levels of poverty, such as rural Mexican communities, low engagement may be aggravated by the limited availability of mental health services and existing barriers to access these services. This qualitative study was conducted to investigate factors that influenced engagement to a primary care mental health service programme in Chiapas, Mexico.We conducted 30 semi-structured interviews with adult service users diagnosed with depression or anxiety who had received mental health services at 10 primary care clinics in rural communities in Mexico. Interviews were analysed through the framework analysis approach to understand service user perspectives on factors influencing: (a) help-seeking, and (b) subsequent treatment attendance.Lack of attribution of symptoms to a mental illness, the perception that symptoms could be managed without treatment, and stigma hindered help-seeking. Perceived need for care, prompted by strong feelings of desperation and severe somatic symptoms, along with advice from trusted sources about the availability of relevant services at the primary health care clinics, were key incentives for service users to make their first contact with the clinics. An ongoing desire for symptom alleviation and satisfaction with services (e.g. due to the positive impact of treatment) improved subsequent attendance, while feeling that treatment was no longer necessary and structural barriers led to non-attendance.Strategies to enhance understandings between service users and health care providers are necessary to improve the extent to which the needs and preferences of service users are met by healthcare services. Further improvements in the mental health of communities are likely to require interventions outside the health setting that tackle social risk factors affecting mental health.

Zinc, vitamin A, and vitamin C status are associated with leptin concentrations and obesity in Mexican women: results from a cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe prevalence of obesity among Mexican women is high and it could be related to micronutrient status. We evaluated in a cross-sectional study the associations of zinc and vitamins A, C and E concentrations with BMI, central adiposity, body fat and leptin concentration.MethodsWomen aged 37 ± 7.5 years (n = 580) from 6 rural communities in Mexico were evaluated. Anthropometric measurements included weight, height, waist and hip circumference. A fasting blood sample was taken for the analysis of glucose, lipid profile, leptin, zinc, and vitamins A, C and E. Body composition was determined by DEXA (Hologic Mod Explorer).ResultsThe prevalence of overweight and obesity was 36% (BMI > 25 Kg/m2) and 44% (BMI > 30 Kg/m2), respectively. Prevalence of zinc and vitamins C and E deficiencies were similar in obese, overweight and normal weight women. No vitamin A deficiency was found. Vitamin C was negatively associated with BMI, waist-to-height ratio, and leptin concentrations (p < 0.05). Vitamin A was positively associated with leptin (p < 0.05). When stratifying by BMI, % body fat and waist circumference, high leptin concentrations were associated with lower zinc and lower vitamin C concentrations in women with obesity (p < 0.05) and higher vitamin A concentrations in women without obesity (p < 0.01). Vitamin E status was not associated with any markers of obesity.ConclusionZinc and vitamins A and C are associated with obesity, adiposity and leptin concentration in women from rural Mexico, and may play an important role in fat deposition. The causality of these associations needs to be confirmed.

Respiratory health survey in children from a rural community in Mexico

Respiratory health survey in children from a rural community in Mexico

Specific micronutrient concentrations are associated with inflammatory cytokines in a rural population of Mexican women with a high prevalence of obesity

It has been recognised recently that obese individuals have lower concentrations of micronutrients and this may affect the concentrations of inflammatory cytokines. A cross-sectional study was carried out to evaluate the association of specific micronutrients' status with chronic inflammation caused by obesity in 280 women (36·1 (SD 7·5) years) from seven rural communities in Mexico. Measurements of weight, height and waist circumference were made on all women and body composition was determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Concentrations of the cytokines IL-1, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-12, lipid profile, and the micronutrients Zn and vitamins A, C and E were determined in fasting blood samples. Ordered logistic regression models were used to determine associations between categorised cytokine levels and micronutrients. It was found that 80% of women were overweight or obese, and had significantly higher concentrations of C-reactive protein than normal-weight women (P= 0·05). The risk of higher levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-12 was reduced significantly among women with higher Zn concentrations (OR 0·63, 95% CI 0·42, 0·96, P= 0·03; OR 0·57, 95% CI 0·39, 0·86, P= 0·025; OR 0·63, 95% CI 0·41, 0·96, P= 0·04; OR 0·62, 95% CI 0·41, 0·95, P= 0·03, respectively). Higher concentrations of vitamin A were slightly associated with reduced risks of higher levels of IL-1 and IL-12 (OR 0·97, 95% CI 0·95, 0·99, P= 0·03; OR 0·97, 95% CI 0·94, 0·99, P= 0·03, respectively); when adjusting for BMI, this association was lost. No associations were found between vitamin C or vitamin E:lipids concentrations and inflammatory cytokines. In conclusion, higher Zn concentrations are associated with reduced risks of higher concentration of inflammation markers in a population of women with a high prevalence of obesity.

Burden and Transmission of Zoonotic Foodborne Disease in a Rural Community in Mexico

The foodborne transmission and human health impact of Salmonella and Campylobacter infections have rarely been evaluated at the population level in highly endemic settings. A prospective 15-month cohort study of 127 infants and 119 elderly people was combined with animal and food surveillance to determine the incidence and severity of Salmonella and Campylobacter gastroenteritis in a comparatively prosperous rural community in Mexico. Salmonella and Campylobacter were isolated in up to 75% and 57%, respectively, of raw retail meat and in up to 4.5% of ready-to-eat foods. Rates of acute gastroenteritis of any etiology in infants and elderly people were, respectively, 2.1 and 0.7 episodes per person per year. The annual incidence density rate of Salmonella gastroenteritis was 17.8 per 100 infants and 7.9 per 100 elderly people; the rate of Campylobacter gastroenteritis was 11.7 per 100 infants and 0 per 100 elderly people. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis yielded multiple clusters of human, meat, and/or animal Salmonella and Campylobacter isolates with indistinguishable patterns. On average, gastroenteritis episodes with these pathogens lasted 3 days in infants and 2 days in elderly people. Medical attention was sought in 44% of diarrheal episodes in infants and in 26% of diarrheal episodes in elderly people; none required hospitalization. Infants with multidrug-resistant Salmonella gastroenteritis had a higher frequency of bloody stools and medical visits (50% vs 11%; odds ratio, 8.5; P = .04) than those with more susceptible strains. In this relatively advantaged Mexican rural community, the human health impact of a food chain heavily contaminated with Salmonella and Campylobacter was of low magnitude.

Primary amenorrhea in two sisters: description of a Mexican family with 17α hydroxylase-17 lyase deficiency caused by arginine – stop mutation

A rare cause of congental adrenal hyperplasia is 17α-hydroxylase deficiency. It results in sexual infantilism, primary amenorrhea in females, pseudohermaphroditism in males, hypertension, and hypokalemia. We studied two female siblings from a rural community in Mexico. The cause of consultation was primary amenorrhea. The proband had low levels of estrogen, progesterone and cortisol. Deoxycorticosterone and corticosterone levels were elevated. The proband was homozygous for a transversion of cytosine to thymine at exon 4 (CGA→TGA), causing a premature stop codon at position 239 (R239X). Analysis of family members showed the presence of this heterozygous mutation in the mother, father and one healthy sibling. In summary, we describe a Mexican family with 17α-hydroxylase deficiency due to R239X mutation.

U.S. Expansionism, Mexican Undocumented Migration, and American Obligations

In his compelling piece, “Living in a Promiseland? Mexican Immigration and American Obligations,” Rogers Smith argues that the greater the degree to which the U.S. has coercively constituted the identities of non-citizens in ways that have made having certain relationships to America fundamental to their capacities to lead free and meaningful lives, the greater the obligations the U.S. has to facilitate those relationships. Over the last hundred years, many rural communities in Mexico have been constituted more by U.S. immigration policy and the labor demands of U.S. employers than by similar policies and economic factors in Mexico. According to Smith, this means that Mexicans may be owed “special access” to American residency and citizenship, ahead of the residents of countries less affected by U.S. policies, and in ways that should justify leniency toward undocumented Mexican immigrants.

Contribution of beverages to the intake of polyphenols and antioxidant capacity in obese women from rural Mexico

The aims of the present work were to study beverage consumption among obese women from rural communities in Mexico and to estimate daily polyphenol intake and dietary antioxidant capacity from beverages. A cross-sectional study was used to analyse the beverage intake of 139 premenopausal obese women estimated through repeated 24 h food recalls. Total polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity were determined in eighteen beverages, representing 71 % of total beverage consumption, in order to estimate the intake of polyphenols (mg/person per d) and the dietary antioxidant capacity (μmol Trolox equivalents/person per d) from beverages. Five rural communities located in Queretaro State, Mexico, in 2008. A total of 139 premenopausal women identified as obese (BMI 35·0 (se 0·4) kg/m2), aged 25-45 years. The contribution of beverages to dietary energy was 1369 kJ/d (18 % of total energy intake). Soft drinks were consumed the most (283 (se 17) ml/d), followed by coffee and fresh fruit beverages. Polyphenol intake and dietary antioxidant capacity from beverages was 180·9 (se 12·5) mg/person per d and >1000 μmol Trolox equivalents/person per d, respectively. The items that contributed most to this intake were coffee, roselle drink, peach and guava juices and infusions. There is an urgent need to reduce the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages among obese women from rural Mexico. Low-sugar beverages rich in polyphenols and antioxidants may be healthier options to replace sweetened drinks and increase the intake of bioactive compounds. Nutritional advice on this topic could be a viable strategy to tackle obesity in rural areas in Mexico.

Cycad propagation by rural nurseries in Mexico as an alternative conservation strategy: 20 years on

Propagation of the cycad Dioon edule aimed at sustainable management in the state of Veracruz, Mexico has been ongoing since 1990 under the supervision of staff at Francisco Javier Botanic Garden, with the principal objectives of addressing illegal trafficking and habitat destruction. Plant sales have been limited. Nevertheless these, along with the sale of other managed forest products, have given the cycad producers and other villagers enough incentive to conserve 80 hectares of cycad habitat and to discourage illegal collecting. This model was taken up by four similar nurseries in the buffer zones of two biosphere reserves in Chiapas for the propagation of four additional cycad species and two endangered Chamaedorea palms. A further biosphere reserve in Puebla hosts a similar nursery for the critically endangered D. caputoi. Here the producers are paid through the Reserve authority for cultivation and reintroduction of the cycad. All species were studied at the population level prior to and during nursery establishment. Cultivation knowledge has been passed on to the farmers as well as limited help in marketing. Seedling reintroduction experiments have been carried out but further demographic studies of D. edule and C. mirandae have given reason to re-think reintroduction strategies. There is great potential for these nurseries to act as shelter for rescued plants during civil engineering projects. The marketing problem is still an issue and has been approached by the involvement of conservation authorities in Chiapas to assist the producers with permit paperwork and to seek markets. This experience is an important example of botanic garden extension to rural communities in Mexico that covers several articles of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Technical note: Rabbit meat production under a small scale production system as a source of animal protein in a rural area of Mexico

The aim of this study was to obtain information on rabbit meat consumption habits and rabbit production in Xocotlan, a rural community in Mexico. In the first part of the study, 20 families were requested to describe the rabbit production situation in the community, before 1989 and during 1995. Results indicated that before 1989, the percent of rabbit breeders was 70% of the population while during 1995 a decline to 45% was noticed. This fact can be explained by the outbreak of the Viral Hemorrhagic Disease in 1989. The percentage of the breeders that raised one to five does before 1989 was 64% and decreased to 55% in 1995. Seventy two percent of the breeders before 1989 assigned their production to self-consumption while in 1995 this percentage increased to 89%. Moreover, the breeders that ate rabbit meat one to two times per month before 1989 was 79% while in 1995 this percent reduced to 67%. In the second part of the study, a rabbit production program was performed with nine families, five from Xocotlan and four from Purificacion. The results showed that one family from Xocotlan got a litter size at birth of 9.5±1.7 kits, while two families did not get any results due to abnormal behaviour of the does. In general, the breeders from Xocotlan obtained higher performance than those from Purificacion. The range of rabbit meat consumption per capita per month was 310 to 644 g and the highest meat consumption was recorded by the Xocotlan families.

CLUB NEUROLOGIE-MEDECINE INTERNE

Most local authorities in rural Mexico lack relevant resource data at appropriate scales to develop community plans, even though planning and development decisions are made largely at this level of government. Many resource planning studies have been conducted in less developed areas of Mexico, but these are of limited applicability to economies in rapid transition facing tremendous internal developmental pressure, such as in the state of Jalisco. In order to assist such local rural communities in Mexico achieve a sustainable balance, a landscape planning process which includes community engagement, supplemented with landscape analyses, classification, mapping as well as various qualitative research methods, is described and analyzed. A site analysis across the case municipality of Tapalpa identified major landscape units, and environmental and socio-economic issues, which were grouped into major themes. Following interviews with community members, a participatory workshop charrette was conducted, where local and institutional stakeholders discussed issues uncovered during the interviews and landscape analysis. A final set of sustainable development recommendations and visualizations demonstrating potential outcomes was assembled for legislation and implementation. This study showed that community engagement through the use of participatory landscape planning is an effective means of informing and impacting local policy related to sustainable community development in rural Mexico. Furthermore, it demonstrates the lack of planning in landscapes outside of major population centers, and the limited utility of existing policies which lack appropriate scale and applicability to rural areas.

Multiple micronutrient deficiencies in obese women in rural Mexico

The objective of this cross‐sectional study was to evaluate the nutritional status of micronutrients among obese women and its impact on BMI, central adiposity, body fat, blood pressure, lipids profile, glucose and C‐reactive protein (CRP) concentrations. Obese women aged 34 ± 6 years (n=143) from a rural community in Mexico were evaluated. Anthropometrical measurements included weight, height, and waist circumference. A fasting blood sample was taken for the analysis of glucose, lipids profile, CRP, vitamins A, D and E, iron and zinc. Body composition was determined by DEXA. The prevalence of vitamin D, vitamin E, and iron deficiencies were 22%, 68.7%, and 44.3%, respectively. No deficiencies were found for vitamin A or zinc. Vitamin E was positively associated with glucose (p&lt;0.001, β=3.6±0.8), triglycerides (p&lt;0.001, β=19.3±1.9), and LDL (p&lt;0.05, β=2.3±1.1), and negatively associated with HDL (p&lt;0.001, β=−2.4±0.7). Women with higher zinc concentrations had significantly lower LDL (p&lt;0.05, β=−20±7.8) and significantly higher HDL (p&lt;0.05, β=14.1±5.3) concentrations. No associations were found with obesity or between vitamin D, vitamin A and iron with any of the variables studied. In conclusion, obese women in this population have multiple micronutrient deficiencies; only poor zinc status was associated with higher concentration of lipids in blood.

Participatory landscape planning and sustainable community development: Methodological observations from a case study in rural Mexico

Most local authorities in rural Mexico lack relevant resource data at appropriate scales to develop community plans, even though planning and development decisions are made largely at this level of government. Many resource planning studies have been conducted in less developed areas of Mexico, but these are of limited applicability to economies in rapid transition facing tremendous internal developmental pressure, such as in the state of Jalisco. In order to assist such local rural communities in Mexico achieve a sustainable balance, a landscape planning process which includes community engagement, supplemented with landscape analyses, classification, mapping as well as various qualitative research methods, is described and analyzed. A site analysis across the case municipality of Tapalpa identified major landscape units, and environmental and socio-economic issues, which were grouped into major themes. Following interviews with community members, a participatory workshop charrette was conducted, where local and institutional stakeholders discussed issues uncovered during the interviews and landscape analysis. A final set of sustainable development recommendations and visualizations demonstrating potential outcomes was assembled for legislation and implementation. This study showed that community engagement through the use of participatory landscape planning is an effective means of informing and impacting local policy related to sustainable community development in rural Mexico. Furthermore, it demonstrates the lack of planning in landscapes outside of major population centers, and the limited utility of existing policies which lack appropriate scale and applicability to rural areas.

Evaluating the impact of an environmental education programme: an empirical study in Mexico

This study draws on information from 11 in‐depth interviews, two focus groups and 72 written questionnaires to evaluate an extra‐curricular environmental education programme on forestry designed for preparatory school students from a small rural community in Mexico. Specifically, the study assessed the impact of the programme on the ecological knowledge of 72 students. Qualitative feedback suggests that students learnt about forestry, acquired greater awareness of the importance of conservation for the local environment and enjoyed the participatory teaching methods used in the programme. Quantitative results show a positive and significant association between the number of times a student participated in the programme and the student’s ecological knowledge. Students who participated in the programme once had a 16.3% higher knowledge on ecological concepts and knew, on average, 1.5 more local forest plants than students who never attended it (p<.001). Findings suggest that the inclusion of participatory environmental education programmes in preparatory schools would improve the acquisition of ecological knowledge. Further research could consider the consistency of the findings by replicating participatory methods presented here and by using an experimental research design.

A System for Treating Rainwater Collected for Human Use in Rural Communities in Mexico

The northern area of the State of Morelos is facing serious problems with water supply for human use and consumption mainly due to geographic conditions and the type of subsoil that predominates in the area, which is made of permeable materials that allow rainwater infiltration to the impermeable layers (800-2342 mm year−1), more than 500 meters deep, making the extraction of this vital liquid difficult and costly. The aim of this project was to develop a system for the treatment of collected rainwater for the rural community Villa Nicolas Zapata in the State of Morelos, Mexico. Considering the limited hydraulic infrastructure and management in this community of 300 inhabitants, which does not receive services from the centralized water systems, a modified pilot multi-stage filtration (MMSF) system for producing drinking water for human use was selected, designed, built, and evaluated. The efficiencies obtained by this treatment system were: real color 96.3%, turbidity 98.0%, pH 6.5 and absence in total and fecal coliforms. The modified multi-stage filtration technology (MMSF) is suitable for treating collected rainwater, obtaining an effluent with water quality that complies with Mexican Official Standard NOM-127-SSA1-1994.