Chiapas Research Articles

(Dis)placement of Anthropological Legal Activism, Racial Justice and the Ejido Tila, Mexico

ABSTRACTThrough an analysis of a land‐dispute case involving indigenous Ch´ol community members in the state of Chiapas, Mexico, this article critically examines the role of anthropological knowledge in the production of the judicial arena as a terrain through which are disputed not only collective rights claims but also a sense of justice. The case of the Ch´ol ejido, or communal land holding, of Tila reached Mexico's Supreme Court in 2010. Yet five years later, tired of the excruciatingly slow pace of the judicial apparatus, Ch´ol ejido authorities rendered their own verdict by way of an assembly decision that reclaimed the 130 hectares under dispute as their own. This para‐state legal verdict unsettled the pre‐ascribed role of different political actors—the state judicial apparatus, human rights organizations, and anthropologists—whose interplay grants certain cohesion and sediment to the current judicial arena in the country when indigenous communities are implicated. The assembly decision and subsequent actions in the ejido Tila displaced these actors, including the Supreme Court judges, and in doing so rendered visible the racialized hierarchies that neither human rights organizations nor anthropologists were effectively able to subvert. [legal activism, cultural expert witness reports, Indigenous territorial claims, racial justice, Latin America]

Perceptions of Nurses Before Professional Midwifery in the First Level of Health Care

Maternal death is a serious problem of global public health, in many of their cases associated with cultural factors and “uses and customs”, this in the different cultures where the problem arises. In Chiapas, Mexico, the approach to traditional midwives represent a concomitant element with aggravated births and need the establishment of professionalization programs for midwives. The objective of this study was to analyse the perceptions of nurses about the impact of professional midwifery on the first level of care A cross-sectional investigation was conducted, showing n=100 participants. The results on the perceptions of nurses in the face of professional midwifery at the first level of care are ambiguous, on the one hand, they comprise the main objective of the program and express the motivation for the independent performance of prenatal consulting, consider that a high impact would be achieved in the contribution to the reduction of maternal death. However, their perception of the strategy of boosting professional midwifery in the State of Chiapas is not entirely positive since 28% regard it as an imposition, others as an irrelevant strategy and 6% refer that these functions are the responsibility of those who hold the code of license in nursing and obstetrics. Adding difficulties that limit the effective performance of comprehensive care to women in pregnancy, childbirth, and low risk postpartum, highlighting little support from managers, lack of training, lack of inputs, complications of the binomial and medical apathy

English

The loss of maize landraces is of major global concern. Landraces provide the genetic building blocks for the development of high yielding pest- and drought-tolerant maize varieties, and their loss reduces the capacity to adapt to changing environmental conditions. The extinction of maize landraces is an incidental effect of the planting decisions of farmers. Although maize landraces are important both as a staple food and the source of traditional specialty foods required in particular cultural events and ceremonies, they are frequently displaced by high-yielding cultivars. The study considers the factors influencing on-farm maize diversity in the Lacandon tropical forest in the Mexican state of Chiapas. Using a censored regression model fitted with cross-sectional household farmer data, the factors behind crop choices was investigated, paying particular attention to the relation between crop diversity, wealth, and income transfers. It was found that maize diversity bears a non-monotonic relation to wealth, but is positively associated with both agricultural subsidies and poverty support. Key words: Crop choice, crop diversity, Lacandon forest, maize diversity, poverty, on-farm conservation, Mexico, censored regression. &nbsp

Therapeutic Efficacy of Ivermectin as an Adjuvant in the Treatment of Patients with COVID-19 Study conducted at the Social Security Institute for Workers of the State of Chiapas, ISSTECH, Mexico

This document sets out the results of a study aimed at estimating the therapeutic efficacy of ivermectin as an adjuvant in the treatment of COVID-19 patients treated at the Specialty Hospital Vida Mejor of the Institute of Social Security for Workers of the State of Chiapas, ISSTECH, Mexico. Ivermectin as an adjuvant in the treatment of COVID-19 patients is more effective (92%) outpatient patients. In critical hospitalized and severe hospitalized patients, ivermectin had a significant impact, both in improving patients' health and decreasing lethality

Sustratos alternativos para la producción de plántulas de tomate de cáscara (Physalis ixocarpa Brot.) en Chiapas

El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo evaluar el efecto de distintos sustratos alternativos en la emergencia y crecimiento de Physalis ixocarpa Brot. obtenidos en cepellón, bajo condiciones de malla sombra. La investigación se llevó a cabo en el municipio de Cintalapa, Chiapas. Los sustratos empleados fueron T1 cosmopeat usado como testigo, T2 humus de lombriz, T3 aserrín de Pinus oocarpa y T4 composta. Los tratamientos se establecieron bajo un diseño completamente al azar con cuatro repeticiones, sembrándose 50 semillas por cada repetición en bandejas de unicel. Las variables de estudio fueron sometidas a un análisis de comparación de medias (

Nueva lectura del ejercicio del derecho a la libre autodeterminación indígena en México. Elecciones municipales 2019 en Oxchuc, Chiapas

Como resultado de diferentes conflictos políticos suscitados en los últimos veinte años en esa región de Chiapas, la sociedad civil motivó la promoción de diversos juicios ante el Tribunal Electoral del Poder Judicial de la Federación (TEPJF) con la finalidad de obtener, mediante sentencia, el reconocimiento del derecho a la libre determinación en materia política que establece el artículo 2º de la constitución política de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos y elegir así a sus autoridades municipales mediante sistemas propios. El presente documento describe los hechos ocurridos, y establece los argumentos jurídicos y políticos que se utilizaron para determinar que el municipio de Oxchuc podría apegarse a los usos y costumbres para la elección de autoridades.

Mainstreaming DRM into subnational development policies in Mexico

PurposeThe present study proposes the analysis of DRM strategies that had been implemented into subnational development plans and public policy instruments in the States of Chiapas and Tabasco, located in Southeast Mexico. It describes the methodological phases for the implementation of those strategies and the participatory process, with a multi-level approach, carried out with multiple stakeholders and UNDP advisory.Design/methodology/approachFor this research, two case studies were developed to highlight the factors which make successful DRM in development plans and policies. It included the compilation and review of documents generated by UNDP-PMR program on the mainstreaming process in the past four years, interviews with key actors in the states of Chiapas and Tabasco, such as governmental officers, national and international ONG's, UN agencies and rural communities' leaders.FindingsThe review of these case studies demonstrate that for developing countries like Mexico, the process to strengthening institutions setting, needs being present in the field and creating alliances and synergies to generate advocacy processes from a capacity development approach. Having not only an output approach in projects but also mainly an impact strategy, both at the local and the sectoral levels, along with a mid-term timeline and budget, are some of the hallmarks of UNDP-PMR program work.Originality/valueThis study showed two original experiences of mainstreaming DRM into subnational development policies in high risk contexts. These experiences had the participation of multiple stakeholders from local governments and communities. Nowadays, these two experiences are being implemented in the territories despite political administration changes in the last years.

Diagnóstico sobre hábitos de estudio en universitarios de nuevo ingreso como herramienta para identificar oportunidades de mejora

Con el objetivo de diagnosticar los hábitos que los universitarios de nuevo ingreso declaran cuando desarrollan actividades relacionadas con el estudio, para identificar áreas de oportunidad que sirvan como referente al emprender procesos de rediseño curricular y de planeación académica, esta aportación indaga sobre las prácticas que los estudiantes suelen realizar de forma cotidiana cuando se trata de estudiar. Esto mediante la aplicación de un test que identifica hábitos que los estudiantes poseen cuando son matriculados en alguna de las cinco licenciaturas (Administración, Contaduría, Gestión Turística, Sistemas Computacionales y Diseño de Software) que ofrece la Facultad de Contaduría y Administración, Campus I (FCA, CI) de la Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas (Unach). El instrumento utilizado se adaptó del planteado por Huidobro, Gutiérrez y Condemarín (2000). Así, al final, constó de 39 reactivos con respuestas dicotómicas (Sí / No), a través de las cuales se midieron ocho dimensiones: Ambiente físico, Estado fisiológico, Distribución de tiempo, Lectura, Técnicas de estudio, Preparación de pruebas, Concentración y Actitud hacia el estudio. Mediante plataforma electrónica, la aplicación fue autoadministrada, y se abarcó a toda la población matriculada en las cinco licenciaturas de cada ciclo escolar participante: un total de 1630 estudiantes. De manera general, los resultados arrojan que en promedio cerca de 8 (7.9) de cada 10 estudiantes tiene dificultades para realizar actividades relacionadas con la lectura y 6 (5.9) de cada 10 declara problemas para distribuir el tiempo. Asimismo, a nivel global, en promedio 23 % de los participantes obtiene ponderaciones aceptables solo en dos de las ocho dimensiones exploradas (aunque por licenciatura este promedio presenta diferencias importantes); 26 % entre tres y cuatro; 30 % entre cinco y seis, y solo 21 % declara siete u ocho dimensiones aceptables. Estos resultados podrán emplearse como referentes para diseñar en el futuro programas sistemáticos y diferenciados de intervención académica que permitan fomentar y mejorar la lectura, las técnicas de distribución de tiempo, la mejora de la concentración y la creación de las condiciones físicas propicias para estudiar, e incluso para diseñar programas de capacitación sistemática del personal docente.

A new species of long-tailed shrew of the genus Sorex (Eulipotyphla: Soricidae) from Sierra de Omoa, Honduras.

The only known species of the genus Sorex in Honduras is Sorex mccarthyi Matson Ordóñez-Garza, which is endemic to Celaque National Park. This species shows the presence of a postmandibular foramen and canal, a characteristic that is useful to distinguish between species south of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and unique to the Sorex salvini species group. Recently, two specimens of Sorex were collected in 2018 at Cusuco National Park, northwestern Honduras. These specimens lack the distinctive characteristics possessed by the S. salvini species group and belong to the Sorex veraepacis species group. Previously, the S. veraepacis species group was only known from the highlands of the southern Mexican state of Chiapas and Guatemala. Principal component analysis shows that specimens from Sierra de Omoa are different in size and shape with respect to other known species (i.e., S. veraepacis Alston, S. ibarrai Matson McCarthy and S. madrensis Matson Ordóñez-Garza). We describe these two specimens, currently known only from an isolated cloud forest in the Sierra de Omoa, Honduras, as a new species.

COMPORTAMIENTO DE TEMPLOS COLONIALES EN EL SISMO DEL 7 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 2017 EN CHIAPAS

En este artículo se presenta una revisión de edificios coloniales en Chiapas, México, dañados por el sismo del 7 de septiembre del 2017 (Mw=8.2). Se hace una breve descripción de la estructuración de los edificios analizados, los daños observados y procesos de intervención a los que han sido sometidos, y se describe su comportamiento y causas de los daños provocados por el sismo del 7 de septiembre del 2017. Se presentan algunas reflexiones derivadas de la experiencia con los diferentes criterios de ingeniería estructural que se han aplicado a estas edificaciones históricas.

The oldest fossils of the spider subfamily Modisiminae from the Americas: Description of a new species of the genus Modisimus Simon (Araneae: Pholcidae) from the amber of Mexico with a checklist of the extant Mexican species

We present two new records and the description of a new fossil species of daddy long-legs spiders of the genus Modisimus Simon, 1893 from the Miocene Aquitanian amber in the state of Chiapas, Mexico. Of the two studied specimens, one of them is described based on adult male: Modisimus chiapanecus sp. nov. It is not possible to assign the second specimen as new species, because the epigynum it is not clearly visible, therefore we are presenting here the description of the female specimen only. Modisimus chiapanecus sp. nov. is the second fossil species of the family Pholcidae described from Mexico, and the 85th species described of the genus so far. The total number of species of Modisimus from Mexico increases to 20, including the new fossil species described herein. These species represent the oldest known fossils records of the subfamily Modisiminae from the Americas and of the genus so far (23 Mya). Additionally, an updated checklist of the extant Mexican species of the genus is provided.

Effect of Native Strains of Hirsutella citriformis1 on Diaphorina citri2 Adults under Field Conditions

Huanglongbing disease caused by the bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter is transmitted from infected to healthy plants by the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama. Infectivity by conidia of five strains of Hirsutella citriformis Speare applied by contact was evaluated in field bioassays against D. citri adults. Bioassays were in three orchards of Persian lime (Citrus aurantiifolia (Christm. et Panz.) Swingle var. latifolia Yu. Tanaka) and one Mexican lemon (Citrus aurantiifolia Swingle) orchard at Chiapas, Campeche, Quintana Roo, and Colima states in Mexico. Treatments remained bagged on citrus trees in the field for 21 days after application. The five strains were pathogenic to the Asian citrus psyllid; CHE-CNRCB 339 and INIFAP-Hir-2 strains killed the most (74.1 and 68.3%, respectively). Most mycosis (71.1%) was by CHE-CNRCB 339. Preliminary results in the field confirmed the potential of H. citriformis to control Huanglongbing in Mexico.

Implementing electronic decision-support tools to strengthen healthcare network data-driven decision-making

BackgroundMinistries of health in low- and middle-income countries often lack timely quality data for data-driven decision making in healthcare networks. We describe the design and implementation of decision-support electronic tools by the Ministry of Health of the State of Chiapas, in Mexico, as part of Salud Mesoamerica Initiative.MethodsThree electronic decision-support tools were designed through an iterative process focused on streamlined implementation: 1) to collect and report health facility data at health facilities; 2) to compile and analyze data at health district and central level; and, 3) to support stratified sampling of health facilities. Data was collected for five composite indicators measuring availability of equipment, medicines, and supplies for maternal and child health. Quality Assurance Teams collected data, evaluated results and supported quality improvement. Data was also analyzed at the central level and health districts for decision-making.ResultsData from 300 health facilities in four health districts was collected and analyzed (November 2014—June 2015). The first wave revealed gaps on availability of equipment and supplies in more than half of health facilities. Electronic tools provided the ministry of health officers new ways to visualize data, identify patterns and make hypothesis on root-causes. Between the first and second measurement, the number of missing items decreased, and actions performed by quality improvement teams became more proactive. In the final measurement, 89.7—100% of all health facilities achieved all the required items for each indicator.ConclusionsOur experience could help guide others seeking to implement electronic decision-support tools in low- and middle-income countries. Electronic decision-support tools supported data-driven decision-making by identifying gaps on heatmaps and graphs at the health facility, subdistrict, district or state level. Through a rapid improvement process, the Ministry of Health met targets of externally verified indicators. Using available information technology resources facilitated prompt implementation and adoption of technology.

DISTRIBUTION OF TRIATOMINES (HETEROPTERA: REDUVIIDAE) ASSOCIATED WITH HUMAN HABITATION AND POTENTIAL RISK AREAS IN SIX STATES OF THE MEXICAN REPUBLIC

Chagas disease is a real public health problem in Latin America, caused by the flagellate protozoan<br />Trypanosoma cruzi and described by Carlos Chagas in 1909. T. cruzi is transmitted by bloodsucking<br />insects of the subfamily Triatominae which thrive in sylvatic, peridomestic, and domestic habitats,<br />being in the latter two a potential risk to public health because of their role as vectors. We review the<br />distribution of triatomines associated with human habitation and their natural infection with T. cruzi<br />from the states of Aguascalientes, Chiapas, Guerrero, Jalisco, Michoacán, and Oaxaca. Based on<br />samples received in the Laboratory of Entomology of the Institute of Epidemiological Diagnosis and<br />Reference (InDRE-SSA) during the period 2006 to 2010, distribution maps and stratification of potential<br />areas of risk were made. A total of 1910 specimens of seven species of triatomines were identified.<br />Triatoma barberi, Meccus longipennis and M. pallidipennis were the species with the highest rate of<br />infection with T. cruzi; M. pallidipennis and T. dimidiata were the most widely distributed species.

AGROBIODIVERSIDAD VEGETAL COMESTIBLE EN EL TERRITORIO INDÍGENA MAYA-CH’OL DE CHIAPAS, MÉXICO

<p><strong>Background. </strong>Agrobiodiversity represents the importance of the knowledge that indigenous peoples possess about the use of species, a component that has been fundamental in the food system and the subsistence of families. Chiapas is the second state with the greatest biological and cultural diversity in Mexico; however, agroecological research on indigenous communities in the north of the state is still little explored.<strong> Objective. </strong>Document the edible plant agrobiodiversity represented in the agroecosystems of the mayan-<em>ch’ol</em> people.<strong> Methodology. </strong>For this research, communities located in Salto de Agua and Tumbalá municipalities of the Chiapas state were selected, where contact was made with the local authority to propose work agreements. Participatory research techniques, surveys of 10% of family production units, interviews with key informants, participant observation and ethnobotanical collections were applied.<strong> Results. </strong>Seven agroecosystems called <em>milpa</em>, backyard, agroforestry family plot, coffee plantation, oil palm, paddock and forest were presented in the family production units, destined for the production, management and exploitation of forest and livestock, both for self-sufficiency and for sale. Likewise, 107 edible species were registered, corresponding to 45 families, with Fabaceae being the most diverse with 16 species. The edible category was classified into six subcategories, the most representative were food (32%), dessert (28.9%) and drink (17.2%) and, less frequently, consumption in the field (10.9%), seasoning (9.4%) and snacks (1.6%). 38 species with use values between 3 and 2 are documented, with higher value in <em>Zea mays</em> L., <em>Cucurbita pepo</em> L. and <em>Brosimum alicastrum</em> Sw.<strong> Implications. </strong>This study understands the ethical importance of linking with indigenous communities, which is documented under the criteria of systems of life and rescue of knowledge, which serve to direct the context of managing community proposals towards the sustainability of local resources.<strong> Conclusions. </strong>The analysis of edible plant species allowed documenting the agrobiodiversity of the <em>ch'ol</em> family production units, which constitutes an essential component of the complex system for the use of resources, whose form of conservation and management depends on the family context, with the main influence and sustenance in their traditional knowledge.<strong></strong></p>

First record of Stagmomantis limbata (Hahn) (Mantodea: Mantidae) from Chiapas, Mexico

First record of Stagmomantis limbata (Hahn) (Mantodea: Mantidae) from Chiapas, Mexico

Croton calcareus: a new species of dragon’s blood (Euphorbiaceae) from dry forest in the state of Chiapas, Mexico

We describe Croton calcareus Riina & Mateo-Ram. sp. nov., a new species in Croton section Cyclostigma (dragon’s blood trees) from the state of Chiapas (Mexico). This species is a small tree growing in dry forest on calcareous substrates. Both morphological and molecular data support C. calcareus sp. nov. as a new species closely related to C. redolens, another dry forest taxon from northern Venezuela. We provide illustrations, a distribution map and suggestions for species conservation status. The new species along with Croton draco are the only known representatives of C. section Cyclostigma occurring in Mexico.

Provenance of the Miocene Nanchital Conglomerate, western Chiapas Foldbelt, Mexico: implications for reservoir sands in the Sureste Basin, greater Campeche Province

Provenance of the Miocene Nanchital Conglomerate, western Chiapas Foldbelt, Mexico: implications for reservoir sands in the Sureste Basin, greater Campeche Province

On the Mexican ricinuleids: a new species of the genus Pseudocellus (Arachnida: Ricinulei: Ricinoididae) from the cloud forest of Chiapas, Mexico

A new species of epigean ricinuleid of the genus Pseudocellus Platnick, 1980 is described from a cloud forest of the state of Chiapas, Mexico. The species is described based on adult males and females: Pseudocellus franckei sp. nov. This is the sixth species described from Chiapas, holding the highest number of ricinuleids species for the country. The total number of described species of Pseudocellus from Mexico increases to 19, having the highest number of Ricinulei worldwide.

Diversidad fenotípica de chile Amashito de Tabasco y Chiapas, México

El objetivo del trabajo fue realizar la exploración etnobotánica, recolecta y caracterización in situ de poblaciones de chile Amashito (Capsicum annuum var. Glabriusculum) de los estados de Tabasco y Chiapas. El trabajo se desarrolló de julio a diciembre de 2017 en 24 comunidades del estado de Tabasco y 15 comunidades del norte del estado de Chiapas, México. Los sitios de exploración se eligieron con base al sondeo de informantes clave (recolectores reconocidos), información de mercados y literatura disponible. Se aplicó una encuesta a 39 recolectores, uno por cada sitio de estudio. El tamaño de muestra a recolectar varió entre 3 y 5 plantas. Se midieron in situ 20 descriptores morfológicos de planta, flor y fruto de 98 poblaciones. Los datos se analizaron por medio de análisis de componentes principales y conglomerados jerárquicos con las 13 variables que explicaron la mayor variación morfológica. Los recolectores identifican nueve morfotipos de chile Amashito que se distinguen por color, pigmentación, forma y tamaño del fruto principalmente, y estos crecen principalmente en ecosistemas de haciendas de cacao, acahuales, platanales y milpas. Los tres primeros componentes principales explican 50.2% de variación morfológica observada. Las poblaciones de chile Amashito se diferencian y agrupan de acuerdo con las características geográficas de los sitios de estudio. Las poblaciones de la región norte de Chiapas se caracterizaron por presentar frutos alongados y de mayor tamaño en comparación con los de las comunidades de Tabasco. También se encontró que en las zonas aledañas en donde convergen las dos regiones de estudio se distinguió un grupo de poblaciones que comparten similitudes morfológicas.