Cigarette smoking; knowledge and attitudes among Mexican physicians.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of the smoking habit among Mexican physicians as well as some of their attitudes and information on specific issues concerning smoking. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 1993, a survey was carried out among 3,568 physicians of the three major official health care institutions in Mexico City. A questionnaire designed for The Mexican National Survey of Addictions (ENA 1993) was used. Prevalence of cigarette smoking, age of onset, number of cigarettes per day; also information and attitudes concerning smoking were assessed. RESULTS: The mean age was 37, 66% were males. Of the 3,488 (98%) surveyed, 26.9% were smokers (62% daily), 20.6% were ex-smokers and 52.5% non-smokers. There were differences related to age and sex (p < 0.05). Of daily smokers, 36% smoked between 1 and 5 cigarettes. There was a significant trend among ex-smokers that linked the time they had ceased smoking with the fear to start smoking again. Physicians were well informed of the relationship between cigarette smoking and lung cancer. Over 80% considered tobacco an addictive drug but only 65% were in favor of banning smoking from their workplaces and over 10% were not aware that it is forbidden to smoke inside health care facilities. CONCLUSIONS: These results differ from other studies that find the prevalence of smoking among physicians lower than in the general population. Our study revealed a greater prevalence of the smoking habit among female physicians and the number of cigarettes smoked per day was greater than in the general population regardless of sex.

[Consumption of prescription drugs in 60-65 years old population in Mexico. National Survey on Addictions, 1993]. / Consumo de drogas médicas en poblacion de 60 a 65 años en México. Encuesta Nacional de Adicciones 1993.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of consumption of medical drugs among the population 60 to 65 years old identified in the National Survey on Addictions 1993 and obtain data on the demographic characteristics of these consumers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional, probabilistic, stratified and cluster sample of subjects between 12 and 65 years old living in urban areas of the country was selected. RESULTS: Of the 911 elderly subjects identified, 218 (23.9%) were consumers of prescription drugs, constituting 17% of men and 28% of women. The most frequently used drugs were central nervous system depressants (22% of women and 13% of men) followed by opiates (7% of women and 5% of men). The onset age of consumption was 60 years old and men started earlier than women. Of prescription drug users, 85% use depressors and opiates by prescription, 3% self-medicate themselves and 5% follow a friend's recommendation. Nine per cent use prescription drugs longer than the prescribed time. CONCLUSIONS: More extensive, specific studies of drug consumption by the elderly should be carried out to explore prevalence of use, which are used most frequently, frequency of adverse effects, effects on quality of life and social support networks for the elderly, among other topics.

Risk factors for inhalant abuse in juvenile offenders: the case of Mexico.

During the last two decades the abuse of inhalants and other addictive substances has received considerable attention in Mexico. Although substance abuse seems to affect everyone, adolescents seem to be at higher risk, and although researchers have identified the links between substance abuse and delinquency, there is not enough scientific information to explain the reason. A cross-sectional study was designed to examine the relationship between known risk factors and inhalant abuse among a group of Mexican juvenile offenders. Of the 626 subjects studied, 58% reported use of different drugs, and of them 23% abused inhalants. Gender, low socio-economic level and labor status were the principal risk factors associated with inhalant abuse. According to attributable risks calculated, and taking into account the methodological limitations of the study, the authors suggest some preventive actions to decrease inhalant abuse in the population studied.

[Mortality and possible lost years of life due to tobacco consumption in Mexico]. / Mortalidad y años de vida potencial perdidos por consumo de tabaco en México.

An analysis was performed to estimate mortality and YPLL attributable to 20 smoking related diseases, based on the prevalence rates of current and former smokers obtained from a national survey; mortality data from vital statistics, and their relative risks and attributable mortality fractions due to tobacco consumption of the 20 diagnoses set for 1986. Numerical estimates of national mortality and YPLL attributable to cigarette consumption for the diagnosis set were made. Among the population of 20 years of age and older on 1986, a total of 17,405 deaths where attributable to smoking cases (47.0/100,000 individuals of 20 to 74 years of age), and takes the 9th place of grouped general mortality. Cardiovascular disease rated first place with 33 per cent of total cases; respiratory disease came second with 31.6 per cent. All 20 diagnoses someans 146.299 YPLL between 20 to 65 years (1.4 per cent from total ypll 0-70 years).

[Stimulation at home and psychological profile of mothers of children with or without weight loss during the first 15 days of life]. / Estimulación en el hogar y perfil psicológico de madres de niños con y sin pérdida de peso en los primeros quince dias de vida.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the possible difference of the microenvironment of a group of children who lost weight in their first 15 days of life. DESIGN: Longitudinal ecological study of growth and development of a total cohort of all children born during a calendar year. SETTING: Rural village of Central Mexico. PARTICIPANTS: A group of sixteen children, who fifteen days after birth and without apparent reason, showed a decrease in weight as compared with weight at birth, they were compared with a control group from the same population and matched, case by case, according to gestation age, height at the time of birth, and body weight. MEASUREMENT AND MAIN RESULTS: To assess the influence of microenvironmental factors two indicators were used. Recording and scoring of maternal behavior was done by adaptation to local conditions by Cravioto et al, of the Maternal Behavior Profile developed by Nancy Bayley. The instrument used for estimating home stimulation was the inventory developed by Caldwell design to sample certain aspects of the quantity and/quality of social, emotional, and cognitive stimulation available to a young child within his home. No significant differences were found in relation to Maternal Behavior Profile and Home Stimulation in the two groups studied (statistical differences, P greater than 0.05). CONCLUSION: Data from present study contribute to the claim that systematic stimulation in the home and an adequate interrelation mother-child are among the main elements necessary for the proper development of the child.