Rural Communities In Mexico Research Articles

Management of Citrus Cultivation in Emerging Rural Communities in Mexico: Practices and Challenges in the Central-Northern Region of Veracruz

Management of Citrus Cultivation in Emerging Rural Communities in Mexico: Practices and Challenges in the Central-Northern Region of Veracruz

Sexual Health Implications of Return Migration for Women and Their Partners in Rural Mexico: A Critical Ethnography.

The return of a migrant partner can negatively impact the sexual health of women who stayed in their communities. Understanding their sexual health needs is crucial for developing targeted interventions and support systems. Our study used a critical ethnographic approach in Agua Dulce, a rural community in Mexico, involving 50 key informants: women who stayed behind (n = 20), returnees (n = 12), community leaders (n = 12), and health care professionals (n = 6). We used participant observation, policy analysis, and interviews, using purposeful and snowball sampling methods. A gender-based thematic analysis revealed economic hardships and early separations affect the sexual well-being of women who stay behind. Infidelity, discovered through social media or calls, causes emotional distress and family disruptions. Male migrants spend an average of 8.85 years abroad, leading to fears of risky sexual behaviors. Our study highlights the urgent need for specialized support centers and comprehensive health interventions.

Giving Birth in the Mountains: Plants and Practices in Reproductive Health of Zapotec Women in Northern Oaxaca

Midwives/healers assist women in rural communities in Mexico and use medicinal plants to relieve different conditions related to reproductive health. This knowledge has been passed down and preserved through generations. The aims of the study were: 1) to document the floristic richness of medicinal plants used in the reproductive health of Zapotec women from the Sierra Norte of Oaxaca; 2) to document events, stages, and conditions during reproductive health; and 3) to provide evidence on the continuity of midwifery practices in the region. We interviewed 100 Zapotec women, 11 midwives/healers, the municipal authorities of four municipalities: Tabaá, Yojovi, Solaga, and Analco, and personnel from each health center. We recorded 66 plant species, with cinnamon, avocado, and rue the most mentioned. Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, Poaceae and Fabaceae were the most abundant. We identified five events with different stages/conditions during the reproductive health of women. The number of species mentioned by Analco collaborators differed by age category, indicating a breakdown in traditional knowledge. Multivariate analysis comparing the knowledge of native and introduced species between the collaborators of four municipalities revealed that they were clustered because of the mention of some introduced species (Analco) or because some species were mentioned once (Laxopa). However, the same analysis using native species shows no grouping, suggesting that women share similar knowledge. Traditional midwifery practices and medicinal plants used during the reproductive stage of Zapotec women are still based on native Mexican plants, and their persistent use will depend on the context of each locality and the global medicine system.

Statistical Analysis by Linear Regression of the Prevalence of Flatfoot in Preschool Children of a Mexican Community

Context: In Mexico's rural towns, it is essential to generate a culture of studying the prevalence of flat feet in children aged 3 to 5, whose arch is still in development and can be corrected. By means of a computer application, statistical bar graph and correlation studies via linear regression can validate the results obtained regarding the categorization of infants' footprint type, which are acquired through the Hernández Corvo index (HCI), Clarke’s angle protocol (CA), the Staheli index (SI), the Chippaux index (CI), and the body mass index (BMI). Methods: A statistical analysis of the plantar footprint of 95 infants in a rural region of Mexico was carried out, employing a computational technique together with a photo-podoscope. Footprint images were acquired, processed, and classified. The footprint type was categorized with respect to the HCI, CA, and the Staheli-Chippaux index (SCI). The footprint distribution was validated via the linear regression method. Results: We evidenced a prevalence of flat foot of 54,7% in relation to HCI, 58,9% in relation to CA, and 61,05% in relation to SCI, where the male gender was shown to be more susceptible (up to 28, 32, and 33 cases, respectively). The best prediction was obtained using the SI and the CI: 90,7 and 87,0% for the right and left feet, with a positive increase. No dependence on body composition was observed. Conclusions: The diagnosis of the type of footstep, in its normal, cavus, and flat categories, shows the prevalence of flat feet among infants aged 3 to 5, with at least 28 cases, mostly male and without dependence on weight. Although it is difficult to perform plantar footprint diagnoses in the rural communities of Mexico, this statistical study highlights the importance of monitoring foot development in preschool infants with the advantages and practicality of computational techniques.

Artificial neural network (ANN) in forecasting of poverty line and economic-energetic efficiencies into the maize-based agroecosystems

ABSTRACT In Mexico, corn is cultivated in small agroecosystems by rural farmers on communal lands. These farmers are economically vulnerable, and low yields from their plots affect both their economic and food security. A Feed-Forward Back Propagation Artificial Neural Network (ANN) aids in estimating the variables with the greatest impact on the agroecosystem related to Economic Efficiency (EC ha−1), Energy Efficiency (ENE ha−1), and the ‘Poverty Coverage Line’ (PCOVER). With an R = 0.86, the ANN has identified that the variables with the most significant impact on EC ha−1 are the ‘cultivated area’, the ‘total energy consumed per hectare’, and the ‘presentation of products in the market’. For ENE ha−1 and PCOVER, the key variables are the ‘cultivated area’, the ‘planting rate’, and the ‘total energy consumed per hectare’. The ANN demonstrates its utility by predicting that the cultivated acreage and the total energy invested by the farmer in their activities are the primary factors contributing to the poverty line in the agricultural sector of a rural community in Mexico. The variables feeding into this ANN encompass the fundamental energy and economic investments in other crops, making it adaptable and replicable in various agricultural contexts.

Development of Low-Cost IoT System for Monitoring Piezometric Level and Temperature of Groundwater

Rural communities in Mexico and other countries with limited economic resources require a low-cost measurement system for the piezometric level and temperature of groundwater for their sustainable management, since anthropogenic action (pumping extractions), natural recharge and climate change phenomena affect the behavior of piezometric levels in the aquifer and its sustainability is at risk. Decrease in the piezometric level under a balanced level promotes salt intrusion from ocean water to the aquifer, salinizing and deteriorating the water quality for agriculture and other activities; and a decrease in water level under the pumps or well drilling depth could deprive communities of water. Water temperature monitoring is essential to determine electric conductivity and dissolved salt content in groundwater. Using IoT technology, a device was developed that monitors both variables inside the well, and the ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure outside the well. The measurements are made in real time, with sampling every second and sending data to a dedicated server every 15 min so that the visualization can be accessed through a device with Internet access. The time series of the variables measured inside and outside the well were obtained over a period of three months in the rural community of Agua Blanca, Guasave, Sinaloa, Mexico. Through these records, a progressive temporary drawdown of the piezometric level is observed, as well as the frequency of pumping. This low-cost IoT system shows potential use in hydrological processes of interest such as the separation of regional and local flow, drawdown rates and recognition of geohydrological parameters.

Multifactorial Assessment of the Bioenergetic Potential of Residual Biomass of Pinus spp. in a Rural Community: From Functional Characterization to Mapping of the Available Energy Resource

The generation of biomass residues in different productive activities of rural communities in Mexico represents an area of opportunity for the generation of bioenergy for various purposes. Solid biofuels (SBF), for example, are an alternative for the exploitation of these residues. The present study shows a comprehensive proposal for the analysis of residues of Pinus spp. generated by the artisanal sector of a rural community in Mexico. The proposal is based on four stages: a) characterization of the physico-chemical and functional properties of the residues, by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Infrared (FTIR) and Raman Spectroscopy, Thermogravimetry (TGA-DTG), determining the calorific coefficient and polymeric compounds present by fiber analysis; (b) spatial, temporal and dimensional analysis of the waste generated in the town studied; (c) assessment of the energy potential available in space and time; (d) definition of guidelines for the management of solid biofuels for the community through collection, processing and final disposal centers. The results of the assessment of timber residue from 50 artisan workshops that represent 25% of the total in the community show that the identified heating value of the dry residue ranges from 17.6 MJ/kg to 18.1 MJ/kg, attributed to the presence of polymeric compounds such as cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, the latter in the order of 28%, which contributes to a high energy potential, and whose compounds were identified by TGA-DTG analysis, FTIR, SEM and fiber analysis. The energy potential was estimated at approximately 7 TJ/year for the analyzed workshops. In which case, the economic savings obtained from unburned firewood would amount to about $20,000 USD/year. As regards the reduction in firewood consumption due to the use of residues for energy purposes, about 350 Tn/year would be mitigated, which would reduce the community’s emissions by more than 76 TnCO2/year. A strategic management proposal was also established, aimed at providing spaces for the collection, processing and final disposal of solid biofuels from wood residues, which in sum represent an energy alternative that is sustainable in environmental, economic and social terms, for the same community.

Perceptions of the Impact of Covid-19 in Tepoztlan, Mexico: A Focused Ethnographic Study

This article analyzes the transformation of Tepoztlan, a rural community in Mexico, as the Covid-19 pandemic changed people´s perceptions about their lives and future prospects, and deepened their connections to global networks. A focused ethnographic study revealed how women led the movement to close the town to outside visitors and, through negotiations and community decisions, how the town eventually opened up again, highlighting the impact on employment. Data from a statistical survey undertaken during the first peak of Covid-19 infections in 2020 showed the reactions of young women and women heads of households to the impact of the pandemic that, in their own words, “takes away our freedom of action”, while men of all age groups were deeply worried about economic futures. Unexpectedly, the re-opening of the town brought an influx of post-pandemic tourism that was seized by aggressive and illicit powerful groups as an opportunity to take over the town. Managing the risk of inadvertently providing information that may be used by such groups poses a dilemma for present-day anthropologists.

Optimising the Optic Fibre Deployment in Small Rural Communities: The Case of Mexico

Over the years, connection or access to the Internet has shown a positive impact on users in their everyday activities, such as entertainment, online education, online business, and productivity increments in their communities. Unfortunately, rural communities, which usually are far away from cities, cannot enjoy these benefits due to inefficient or inexistent Internet access. We propose an algorithm to select which communities to connect to maximise the number of people connected to the Internet while minimising the length of the network, or while maximising the number of connected communities, or while maximising the linked people per kilometre of fibre. The algorithm estimates the shortest driving distance and the minimum spanning tree. Then, the algorithm creates a subset of linked communities to select the next one to connect based on one of the three criteria described above. To test the algorithm, we used data from a set of rural communities in Mexico. The results showed that the minimum length of the network to connect the 597 rural communities (with 454,514 people) in our test case was 949.09 km. Moreover, there was a difference of 204.1 km in the network length to connect 90% of the total population depending on the selected criterion to connect the communities. If the decision-maker wants to connect 90% of the population, the maximum number of connected communities was 507 using the PC criterion.

Solar still Design and Construction for its Implementation in Rural Communities in Mexico

Water scarcity and sufficient energy sources without affecting climate change are complex problems facing humanity. Water purification, such as desalination using solar radiation as an energy source, is a mature technology method that provides economic savings in electricity, gas, and oil consumption, achieving good quality fresh water. Solar water distillation is an example of nature's purification mechanism through the water cycle. This paper presents a solar still design and construction with easily accessible, low-cost materials and simple manufacturing, which obtain the patent MX2020/070739. The energy evaluation and experimental results are also presented, verifying the device's technical feasibility. As a result, water production of 805/day was obtained, with a maximum solar irradiance of 980 W/m2 and 36 °C ambient temperature and the efficiency during the test days was 38%. Using the distiller can benefit rural communities in Mexico by obtaining fresh water, achieving significant energy savings, and contributing to caring for the environment.
 Keywords: Solar Irradiance, Solar still, Energy efficiency, Solar Technologies

DNA methylation profile of a rural cohort exposed to early-adversity and malnutrition: An exploratory analysis.

Barker's hypothesis affirms that undernourishment in early-life induces metabolic reprogramming that compromises organism functions later in life, leading to age-related diseases. We are exposed to environmental and social conditions that impact our life trajectories, leading to ageing phenotypes as we grow. Epigenetic mechanisms constitute the link between both external stimuli and genetic programming. Studies have focused on describing the effect of early adverse events such as trauma, famines, or childhood labor on epigenetic markers in adulthood and the elderly. However, we lack information on epigenetic programming in individuals born in rural communities from underdeveloped countries, exposed to negative influences during fetal and postnatal development, particularly chronic malnutrition. Hence, in this exploratory analysis, we characterize the epigenome of individuals and some parents from Tlaltizapan (a rural community in Mexico originally studied almost 50years ago) and collect anthropometric data on growth and development, as well on the living conditions of the families. Our results help build a biological hypothesis indicating that most of the epigenetic age measures of the subjects are significantly different among them. Interestingly, the most affected methylated regions correspond to pathways involved in neuronal system development, reproductive behaviour, learning and memory regulation.

Effective removal of fecal coliforms from river water in a rural community using low-cost CPC

ABSTRACT This paper presents the design, manufacture, characterization, and evaluation of a solar disinfection (SODIS) reactor based on compound parabolic concentrators (CPCs). Two materials were used to manufacture the reflective surface of the CPCs, high reflectivity aluminum sheet (CPCHRS) and commercial aluminum foil (CPCAF). In both configurations, the solar energy collection area, the concentration ratio, and the volume capacity were the same, 1 m2, 1-Sun and 100 L per day, respectively. CPC-type reactor was manufactured with low-cost materials affordable for the end user in rural communities. The experimental evaluation was carried out under real-life conditions using water from a river consumed by the inhabitants of a rural community in Mexico. The effectiveness of CPCs for disinfection using the SODIS process was demonstrated using a flow rate of 10 L/h. CPCHRS achieved 100% bacterial removal of fecal coliforms in 2 h of solar exposition, while CPCAF reached the same results in 4 h under similar conditions. Solar disinfection of natural freshwater sources using a CPC type reactor shows the feasibility of eliminating the main microorganisms that cause gastrointestinal diseases, thus improving the quality of life of the rural community.

Towards the construction of a sustainable rural energy system: Case study of an indigenous community in Mexico

One of the challenges that rural communities face is the satisfaction of their energy demand through sustainable processes, where the production, distribution and final consumption of energy are involved in an efficient, affordable, and non-polluting way. This proposal analyzes, for a rural community in Mexico, the economic and environmental impacts associated with meeting the energy demand for lighting, cooking, entertainment and technology needs, hygiene, education and mobility; by formulating three different scenarios: (a) estimation of current energy consumption (baseline) (b) satisfaction of said needs through locally available renewable energy resources, and (c) satisfaction of needs and their potential impacts by making use of efficient technologies with respect to current technologies, for refrigeration, firewood combustion, and lighting. The results show a current distribution in energy consumption of 66.8 % for cooking, 26.2 % for hygiene, 6.6 % for mobility, 0.8 % for lighting, 0.6 % for entertainment and technology, and 0.03 % for education. In total economic expenditure, the percentages by type of need are 58 % for mobility, 28 % for cooking, 11 % for hygiene, 2 % for lighting, 1 % for entertainment and technology, and 0.1 % for education. The environmental impact in terms of nitrogen oxide (NOx), methane (CH4), and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions is, like the energy consumption, oriented to a greater extent towards energy needs that require thermal energy. Our evaluation of these scenarios has shown that the available energy resources are sufficient to supply all the local energy demand, through technologies such as solar panels, LED lights and efficient combustion stoves; and only less than 5 % of the total production of wood residues that the community generates is required to achieve this satisfaction. Finally, some guidelines are suggested for an energy management strategy that is based on the scenarios proposed for the studied community. This article provides information for the construction of sustainable rural energy systems and for the development of energy management schemes in rural and self-governing communities.

What factors influence engagement with primary mental health care services? A qualitative study of service user perspectives in rural communities of Mexico

BackgroundLow 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. MethodsWe 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. ResultsLack 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. ConclusionsStrategies 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.

Mathematics education and social-environmental crises: an interdisciplinary proposal for didactic innovation with rural communities in Mexico

ABSTRACT We report our progress on the “River Memorial Museum” didactic intervention project developed with schools, in the basin of the Atoyac River in Mexico, that are significantly impacted by the pollution produced through industrialisation. The teachers of the elementary schools in these communities, environmental scientists, educators, and community activists participated jointly in a co-construction process, designing interdisciplinary educational activities to study local environmental issues and recovering the principles of a socio-critical perspective of mathematical modelling. In this paper, we centre on presenting the methodology of the didactic intervention with the teachers of one school of an Atoyac River basin community and the principles for designing educational activities we developed collaboratively with them. We believe this methodology could be helpful to support others in thinking about similar opportunities in their communities.

Dietary Supplementation with Oyster Culinary-Medicinal Mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus (Agaricomycetes), Reduces Visceral Fat and Hyperlipidemia in Inhabitants of a Rural Community in Mexico.

The abandonment of traditional foods in the Mexican diet is one of the causes for the increase in diseases associated with obesity. Edible mushrooms have been a part of the Mexican diet since pre-Hispanic times. There is clear evidence that Pleurotus ostreatus (Po) contains bioactive compounds that have beneficial health effects. In the present study, we carried out a 3-month nutritional intervention in which we randomized 30 participants into two groups: one that consumed a healthy diet with regional foods without the inclusion of edible mushrooms (HD, n = 15) and one that consumed a healthy diet with regional foods alongside 1 kg of P. ostreatus (four portions of 250 g) per week (HD+ P. ostreatus, n = 15). We evaluated anthropometric measurements, lipid parameters, glucose levels, and blood pressure in inhabitants of San Miguel Tianguistenco, Puebla, a rural area of Mexico. For the HD group, the triglyceride levels decreased in women and the glucose levels decreased in men, and in the HD+ P. ostreatus group, visceral fat, glucose, triglyceride, and cholesterol levels decreased in women, and glucose and triglyceride levels decreased in men. Analysis of the intake of macro- and micronutrients in the community showed a high intake of energy, fat, and sugar, and a low intake of fiber, B complex vitamins, and minerals, indicators of an unbalanced diet. It is essential to create strategies that promote the inclusion of edible mushrooms as a part of a heathy diet in rural areas of Mexico to improve the actual health and nutrition of the residents.

Combined use of real-time PCR and serological techniques for improved surveillance of chronic and acute American trypanosomiasis in dogs and their owners from an endemic rural area of Neotropical Mexico

In this study, the prevalence of T. cruzi infection was estimated in dogs and their owners from a rural community in Mexico using serological techniques for chronic infection cases, qPCR for acute phase cases, and a combination of both techniques to detect chronic and acute infections. Eighty-nine blood samples were collected from owners and their dogs for obtaining serum and parasite DNA. Prevalence was calculated using (i) positive cases detected in a serological test (ELISA and Western blot), (ii) positive cases detected in a qPCR test, and (iii) positive cases detected by both techniques. Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values were determined individually for serology, qPCR and for both techniques used simultaneously. The prevalence observed varied: for serology, 25.8% of the dogs and 7.9% of the owners were seropositive, while for qPCR 29.2% of the dogs and 10.1% of the owners were identified as positive. Combination of serological and molecular techniques resulted in a prevalence of 38.2% for dogs and 12.4% for their owners. The sensitivity, specificity and predictive values calculated for both techniques improved when both techniques were used simultaneously (sensitivity of 92.4% and specificity of 100% for infected dogs and sensitivity of 93.4% and specificity of 100% for infected owners). Combined use of serological tests and qPCR allowed identifying a greater number of positive cases in dogs and their owners. This strategy may help implement adequate and timely epidemiological surveillance of American trypanosomiasis in order to prevent the appearance of new cases of Trypanosoma cruzi infections in endemic zones.

Life cycle analysis (LCA) of the production of wood waste briquettes from Pinus spp.: Case study San Francisco Pichátaro, México.

This study shows a life cycle analysis (LCA) of the production of briquettes from wood residues of Pinus spp. in an indigenous community in Mexico. The analysis was carried out considering one Mega Joule (1MJ) of heat as a functional unit, including mainly environmental sustainability indicators, through the Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), and generating environmental impact scenarios for the functional unit by: a) comparing the carbon footprint using solar drying and firewood drying in the production of briquettes and (b) comparing the carbon footprint of the heat obtained by the briquettes from both previous systems with heat obtained from liquefied petroleum gas (LP gas) and firewood. The results show that solar-dried briquettes have the lowest carbon footprint, and more than 80% of the emissions are biogenic, making it an excellent choice as a clean and renewable energy source. In addition, the methane emissions from LP gas is much higher than emissions from briquettes, but the carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions are lower. This methodology applied to the production process will help decision-making in the creation of a micro-enterprise for the generation of solid biofuels in rural communities in Mexico.

Community Engagement in the Diagnosis and Control of a Bovine Paralytic Rabies Outbreak in Two Rural Communities of Mexico

ABSTRACT Rabies is a neglected zoonosis with adverse public health effects. We describe the community engagement in containing a bovine paralytic rabies outbreak in two rural communities of Mexico. We carried out a participatory rapid appraisal using different community participation techniques for 2 weeks, including information sharing, community meetings, prioritization of activities, and training. In addition to the animal census and vaccination, necropsy and immunofluorescence tests were performed to diagnose rabies. Cattle mortality during the outbreak of bovine paralytic rabies was 4.5% (15/331); 1446 anti-rebies vacines were applied, directly benefiting 94 families. Members of two rural communities were trained. The continuous exchange of information among the stakeholders allowed us to inform, consult, involve, and empower community members. Community participation played an essential role in identifying a common problem, implementing activities to contain it, and successfully safeguarding public health, animal production, and food security.

COVID-19 Vaccine Intention among Rural Residents in Mexico: Validation of a Questionnaire.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the scientific community and the pharmaceutical industry to develop new vaccines, in an attempt to reach herd immunity and stop the SARS-CoV-2 from spreading. However, to ensure vaccination among the general population, COVID-19 vaccine intention must be measured. So far, no studies have focused on rural residents in Latin America, which represent approximately 20% of the population of this geographical region. In this study, we present the validation of a self-developed questionnaire, which was validated in a pilot study with 40 Spanish-speaking Mexican rural residents in the state of Guerrero, Mexico. In this study, we describe the chronological validation of the questionnaire, including the assessment of its internal consistency and temporal reliability, which we measured with the Cronbach’s alpha and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient, respectively. After the psychometrical analysis, we were able to validate a 20-item questionnaire, which intends to assess vaccine intention among the rural population. Aiming to develop a comprehensive policy and vaccination strategies, we hope this instrument provides valuable insight regarding COVID-19 vaccination willingness across rural communities in Mexico and Latin America. Finally, if we want to reach worldwide herd immunity, it is important to understand rural residents’ position towards COVID-19 vaccination.