Situation of Occupational and Environmental Health in Mexico.

BACKGROUND: Mexico has a great diversity and richness of natural resources, but evaluations of the quality of life of Mexicans show the deep inequalities and the gap between rich and poor. While 5% of families concentrate 58% of the wealth, the health spending in environment and health is 0.2 and 2.7 of the GDP respectively. This has repercussions both on the gradual deterioration of the environment and on the insufficient health and social security coverage of the working population. OBJECTIVE: To describe the current situation of occupational and environmental health in Mexico. METHODS: A bibliographic review was performed on the socioeconomic, demographic, environmental, legal and health status of the Economically Active Population (EAP). FINDINGS: There is a constant deterioration of terrestrial and marine ecosystems, accompanied by an increase in environmental pollution in large cities. The unemployment rate of the EAP has decreased in one year to 3.4%, but the informal labor rate reached 57.3%, which translates into population without social security. Compliance with legislation for the protection of workers' health is insufficient. The recent amendments to the law have meant a setback in these respects. The reported information on accidents and occupational diseases corresponds to only 34% of workers. There has been a decrease in the rate of work accidents in the last six years, but an increase in diseases and permanent disabilities. During 2016, the first cause of occupational illness was hearing loss, but the profile was dominated by musculoskeletal diseases, which together reached 36.5%. CONCLUSIONS: To improve the occupational and environmental health situation, it is necessary to implement general and particular measures against inequalities, increase the budget in health and environment, enforce legislation and expand social security coverage to the population. These measures should be part of public policies as well as actions of academics and researchers.

Trends in frequency of type 2 diabetes in Mexico and its relationship to dietary patterns and contextual factors.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the evolution of the frequency of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and its relationship to eating patterns in Mexico from 1961 to 2013, and the Gini coefficient, Human Development Index (HDI) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Mexico ranked sixth in world prevalence of diabetes in 2015 with an estimated 11.4 million Mexicans affected. METHOD: Using data from the Balance Sheets Food published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the means of apparent food consumption (kcal/person/day) were grouped by decades. Data for mortality rate for diabetes were obtained from 1990 until 2015. Spearman's correlation coefficient was calculated between the diabetes mellitus mortality rate and all food groups. Pearson's correlation explored the relationship between socio economic indicators and the prevalence of T2D diabetes. RESULTS: The mortality rate for T2D has increased over the last decades. An increase of 647.9kcal/person/day in apparent food consumption was observed. Cereal and legume consumption decreased, while apparent sugar, animal food and animal fat and vegetable oil consumption increased substantially. HDI and GDP showed a directly proportional relationship to diabetes. Spearman's correlation coefficient was statistically significant only for sugar. The Gini coefficient suggests that in lower inequalities there is an increased frequency of diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in the mortality rate of type 2 diabetes was constant during the study period, which coincides with the increase in energy density of Mexican eating patterns from 1961 to 2013. The higher the Gini coefficient, HDI and GDP, the higher the mortality observed for diabetes.

Dietary patterns, overweight and obesity from 1961 to 2011 in the socioeconomic and political context of Argentina.

To analyse the changes in eating patterns in Argentina from 1961 to 2011, and to assess changes in overweight and obesity in their socioeconomic and political context, we performed a hierarchical cluster analysis. We used the information from Food Balance Sheets of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation to identify dietary patterns of apparent consumption. Years were grouped into five patterns. The food group with the highest apparent consumption was cereals (30% of total kcal/person/day) although this decreased slightly. Meats were second and their contribution decreased by 12%. The following foods contribution increased during the period: Sugar and milk by 2% and vegetable oils by 6%. The changes observed in the number of kcal/person/day were in line with changes in real wage, and coincided with economic and political crises that Argentina experienced during that period. Changes in eating patterns allow us to interpret that they relate to the increase in overweight and obesity.

[Type 2 Diabetes and Dietary Patterns 1961 to 2009: Some Social Determinants in Mexico]. / Diabetes tipo 2 y patrones de alimentación de 1961 a 2009: algunos de sus determinantes sociales en México.

In order to analyze whether the increase in mortality from diabetes in Mexico is related to changes in eating patterns over the period 1961 to 2009, and if they in turn could be explained in the Mexican socioeconomic context, we conducted an ecological study with information from the Food Balance Sheets FAO. A cluster analysis was performed to shape eating patterns (three) and some socioeconomic variables were analyzed. It was observed that the energy derived from cereals and legumes (beans) was significantly reduced, and simultaneously, energy from sugars, animal foods, and vegetable fats had a significant increase. Various socioeconomic conditions may have favored changes in diet and increased mortality from diabetes. These conditions are: trade liberalization, low growth, rising inequality and informal work, declining agriculture, falling real wages in relation to the value of what is called the "basic food and non-food baskets", increasing prices of healthy food,low cost of processed foods and beverages, and the lack of control in the food market.

La transición alimentaria y la doble carga de malnutrición: cambios en los patrones alimentarios de 1961 a 2009 en el contexto socioeconómico mexicano

El propósito de este trabajo fue identificar si existieron cambios en la composición de los patrones alimentarios de 1961 a 2009, si el gasto en algunos alimentos por nivel de ingresos y el aumento en el precio de ciertos alimentos básicos de la dieta en el contexto socioeconómico mexicano, podrían explicar la transición alimentaria y la doble carga de malnutrición. Se llevó a cabo un estudio ecológico con la información de las Hojas de Balance de la FAO. Para conformar los patrones alimentarios se realizó análisis de conglomerados. Además, con los datos de la Encuesta Nacional de Ingresos y Gastos en los Hogares 2012 del Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía se construyeron curvas de Engel para calcular la evolución del precio relativo de algunos alimentos. La dieta se definió en tres patrones alimentarios. La disponibilidad total de energía aumentó de 2316 kcal/persona/ día en 1961 a 3146 en 2009. Las modificaciones del patrón alimentario están en consonancia con la transición alimentaria y nutricional y con la doble carga de malnutrición. Se observó que la energía derivada de los cereales y la proveniente de las leguminosa (frijol) se redujo considerablemente, y de manera simultánea la energía procedente de azúcares, alimentos de origen animal y grasas vegetales tuvieron un aumento notable. El gasto en alimentos fue diferencial de acuerdo al nivel de ingresos. La malnutrición está mediada por la inequitativa distribución del ingreso, el bajo costo relativo de los alimentos ricos en energía, el encarecimiento de alimentos nutritivos y el escaso apoyo a la agricultura.

The nutrition transition and the double burden of malnutrition: changes in dietary patterns 1961-2009 in the Mexican socioeconomic context.. The purpose of this study was to identify whether there were changes in the composition of dietary patterns from 1961 to 2009, if food patterns by income level and the increase in the price of certainbasic foods of the diet in the socioeconomic Mexican context, could explain the nutrition transition and the double burden of malnutrition. We conducted an ecological study with data from FAO balance sheets. To construct eating patterns cluster analysis was performed. Engel curves were developed with data from the 2012 INEGI ENGH survey and evolution of therelative price of some foods was calculated. The diet was defined in three dietary patterns. The increase in the total availability of energy increased from 2316 kcal/person/day in 1961 to 3146 in 2009. Dietary pattern modifications are in line with the nutrition transition and the double burden of malnutrition. It was observed that the energy derived from cereals andfrom legume (common beans) was significantly reduced, and simultaneously, the energy from sugars, animal foods and vegetable fats had a dramatic increase. Spending on food was differential according to income level.Malnutritionis mediated by theunequal distribution of income, the relatively lowcost ofenergy-dense foods, the increased cost of nutritious foods, and limited support to agriculture.

[The nutrition transition and the double burden of malnutrition: changes in dietary patterns 1961-2009 in the Mexican socioeconomic context]. / La transición alimentaria y la doble carga de malnutrición: cambios en los patrones alimentarios de 1961 a 2009 en el contexto socioeconómico mexicano.

The purpose of this study was to identify whether there were changes in the composition of dietary patterns from 1961 to 2009, if food patterns by income level and the increase in the price of certain basic foods of the diet in the socioeconomic Mexican context, could explain the nutrition transition and the double burden of malnutrition. We conducted an ecological study with data from FAO balance sheets. To construct eating patterns cluster analysis was performed. Engel curves were developed with data from the 2012 INEGI ENGH survey and evolution of the relative price of some foods was calculated. The diet was defined in three dietary patterns. The increase in the total availability of energy increased from 2316 kcal/person/day in 1961 to 3146 in 2009. Dietary pattern modifications are in line with the nutrition transition and the double burden of malnutrition. It was observed that the energy derived from cereals and from legume (common beans) was significantly reduced, and simultaneously, the energy from sugars, animal foods and vegetable fats had a dramatic increase. Spending on food was differential according to income level. Malnutritionis mediated by the unequal distribution of income, the relatively low cost of energy-dense foods, the increased cost of nutritious foods, and limited support to agriculture.

[Comparative study of the cost/effectiveness of surgical wash with various antiseptics].

BACKGROUND: "Surgical scrub" of the hands and arms is a fundamental procedure for reducing infection risk. We undertook this study in order to compare different antiseptics and their microbicidal effects, costs and times of the procedures. METHODS: Thirty students followed the surgical scrub procedure using benzalkonium chloride. Seven days later the students used povidone-iodine and, 7 days after that, they used chlorhexidine/alcohol. After the surgical scrub, cultures were obtained from the palms of their hands and from their nail beds. The students wore sterile gloves, which were removed 30 min later to obtain new cultures from the same sites. The cost of the products was calculated in Mexican pesos and the time of each procedure was measured in minutes. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in the number of colony-forming units (CFUs). The number of CFUs was lower in the groups of students who used chlorhexidine/alcohol and povidone-iodine as compared to the benzalkonium chloride group. There was no difference between chlorhexidine/alcohol and povidone-iodine. Costs were higher for povidone-iodine and benzalkonium chloride compared to chlorhexidine/alcohol. Procedure times were similar with povidone-iodine and benzalkonium chloride but the time was reduced approximately five times when using chlorhexidine/alcohol. CONCLUSIONS: It is a proven fact that the lack of surgical scrub favors wound infections, longer hospital stays and increased costs. Therefore, further studies are needed to determine the best antiseptic according to cost/benefit. Chlorhexidine/alcohol proved to be the superior antiseptic in terms of cost/benefit compared to povidone-iodine and benzalkonium chloride.

La inequidad por clase, etnia y géneroexpresada en el desmedro / A desigualdade por classe, etnia e gênero expressada no definhamento / Inequity by social class, ethnicity and gender expressed in stunting

Objetivo: conocer la repercusión de la inequidad por clase, etnia y género en el crecimiento y la prevalencia de desmedro. Material y métodos: se realizó un estudio de cohortes retrospectivas construidas con información de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición de 2006, comparandola estatura y la prevalencia de desmedro, por clase social, género y etnia. Resultados: se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en estatura y desmedro, según nivel socioeconómico, alfabetismo, escolaridad, hablar lengua indígena, cohorte de nacimiento y sexo.Conclusiones: los datos de Ensanut 2006 muestran desigualdades en la estatura y prevalencia de desmedro que se han acentuado a lo largo de los últimos años; dichas desigualdades sonexpresión de inequidades sociales por etnia, clase y por género.

Objective: To ascertain the impact of inequality by social class, ethnicity and gender on growth in stature and the prevalence of stunting. Material and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was constructed with information from the National Health and Nutrition Survey, 2006, comparing the average height and the prevalence of stunting, according to indicators of social class, gender and ethnicity. Results: Statistically significant differences were found in stature and stunting, according to socioeconomic status, literacy, schooling, ethnicity, the birth cohort and gender.These differences become larger in more recent birth cohorts. Conclusions: Data from survey show inequalities in the prevalence of stunting that has been accentuated over the years, theseinequalities express of social inequalities by ethnicity, class and gender.

Objetivo: conhecer a repercussão da desigualdade por classe, etnia e gênero no crescimento e a prevalência do definhamento. Material e métodos: realizou-se um estudo com informaçãoda Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde e Nutrição de 2006, comparando a estatura e a prevalência do definhamento, por classe social, gênero e etnia. Resultados: encontraram-se diferenças estatisticamente significativas em estatura e definhamento, de acordo com o nível socioeconómico, alfabetismo, escolaridade, falar língua indígena e sexo. Conclusões: os dados de Ensanut 2006 mostram desigualdades na estatura e prevalência de definhamento que se acentuaram ao longo dos últimos anos; essas desigualdades são expressão de inequidades sociais por etnia, classe e por gênero.

[Bacteraemia risk criteria in the paediatric febrile neutropenic cancer patient]. / Criterios de riesgo de bacteriemia en el paciente oncológico neutropénico febril pediátrico.

INTRODUCTION: Cancer patients with febrile neutropenia are not a homogeneous group with respect to risk of bacterial infections. Some authors have proposed that febrile cancer patients with low risk factors of bacteraemia could be managed at home with domiciliary antibiotic treatment. The objectives are: to determine the incidence of bacteraemia in our cancer patients who have febrile neutropenia; and to identify the low-risk factors so that the patients can be managed at home using domiciliary antibiotic treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Clinical review of paediatric haemato-oncology disease admitted to our hospital in 2002 suffering from febrile neutropenia. RESULTS: We describe a total of 62 episodes of febrile neutropenia in 30 patients; 24 episodes in haematology patients and 38 episodes in oncology patients. High-risk criteria are age <1 year, poor bone-marrow recovery, chemotherapy within 10 days of the episode, rapid fast neutropenia, leukaemia in relapse, uncontrolled solid cancer, and cardiac or nephrology disease. Based on the number of risk-factors, patients with two or less risk-factors have an incidence of bacteraemia of 6.7% (1/16) and patients with three or more risk factors have an incidence of bacteraemia of 32.6% (15/46); p<0.05. CONCLUSIONS: Incidence of bacteraemia is similar to the reviewed literature; probability of bacteraemia increases with the number of individual risk factors, and patients with low risk of bacteraemia could be managed on an outpatient basis using domiciliary antibiotic treatment.