[Mexican adolescentes' goals as determinants in the prevention of early pregnancies]. / Aspiraciones educativas y familiares como condicionantes en la prevención de embarazos tempranos en México.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore adolescents' intentions related to the early formation of a family. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We administered a survey to students in eight schools in Morelos and Mexico City, in 2010. We analyzed intentions of marrying or having a child and fitted an exploratory path model to assess predictors of the intentions of having a child before the age of 20 (n=2974). RESULTS: Around 77% of adolescents expect to have their first child at 20 years or later; 21% show ambivalence or incongruence regarding this, whereas 2% expect to have a child before the age of 20. Parents' expectations for their child's education influence the importance that adolescents give to education. The latter promotes the idea of postponing childbearing until 20 years or later (ß=0.13). CONCLUSIONS: In order to prevent early pregnancies, interventions and programs should encourage the construction of personal and professional goals.

Aspiraciones educativas y familiares como condicionantes en la prevención de embarazos tempranos en México / Mexican adolescentes' goals as determinants in the prevention of early pregnancies

Objetivo. Analizar las intenciones de adolescentes de formar una familia a edad temprana. Material y métodos. Estudio transversal con cuestionarios a estudiantes de ocho secundarias y preparatorias en Morelos y Ciudad de México, en 2010. Se exploraron intenciones de casarse y tener un hijo y se ajustó de manera exploratoria un modelo de rutas para identificar predictores en el plan de tener un hijo antes o después de los 20 años (n=2 974). Resultados. El 77% espera tener su primer hijo a los 20 años/después; 21% se muestra indeciso y 2% antes de los 20 años. Las expectativas de los padres influyen en la importancia que el adolescente le otorga a alcanzar un alto nivel de estudios, mismo que promueve las intenciones de tener hijos hasta los 20 años o después (β=0.13). Conclusiones. En la prevención de embarazos tempranos es imprescindible apoyar a los adolescentes para que se fijen metas de desarrollo personal.

Objective. This study aims to explore adolescents' intentions related to the early formation of a family. Materials and methods. We administered a survey to students in eight schools in Morelos and Mexico City, in 2010. We analyzed intentions of marrying or having a child and fitted an exploratory path model to assess predictors of the intentions of having a child before the age of 20 (n=2974). Results. Around 77% of adolescents expect to have their first child at 20 years or later; 21% show ambivalence or incongruence regarding this, whereas 2% expect to have a child before the age of 20. Parents' expectations for their child's education influence the importance that adolescents give to education. The latter promotes the idea of postponing childbearing until 20 years or later (β=0.13). Conclusions. In order to prevent early pregnancies, interventions and programs should encourage the construction of personal and professional goals.

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels among Mexican children ages 2 y to 12 y: a national survey.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the vitamin D status in preschool and school-age children in Mexico. METHODS: 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-D) serum concentrations were measured using a direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay commercial kit in a nationally representative sample of 1025 Mexican children ages 2 y to 12 y who participated in the 2006 Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey. RESULTS: Mean serum 25-OH-D concentration was 94.6 ± 47 nmol/L. Concentrations were lower in preschool children (2-5 y; 78.3 ± 37 nmol/L) than in school-aged children (6-12 y; 105.8 ± 51 nmol/L; P < 0.001). Children living in urban areas had lower levels (89.8 ± 36 nmol/L) than children from rural areas (108.1 ± 75 nmol/L; P < 0.05). Twenty-four percent of preschool children had vitamin D deficiency (25-OH-D < 50 nmol/L) compared with 10% of school-aged children (P < 0.05). Thirty percent of preschool children had vitamin D insufficiency (25-OH-D 50-74.9 nmol/L) compared with 18% of school-aged children (P < 0.05). In urban areas, 18% of children had vitamin D deficiency and 25% had insufficiency compared with 10% and 16% of children in rural areas, respectively (P < 0.05). Prevalence of severe vitamin D deficiency (25-OH-D < 20 nmol/L) was extremely low (0.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are important public health problems in Mexican children.

Dietary patterns in Mexican adults are associated with risk of being overweight or obese.

Our objective was to identify and describe the major dietary patterns in the Mexican adult population and their association with being overweight or obese. Dietary intake was evaluated by a FFQ that was completed by 15,890 Mexican adults who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Survey 2006. Dietary patterns were generated by cluster analysis based on the percent contribution to total energy intake from 30 food groups. We identified 3 major dietary patterns: refined foods and sweets (RS), traditional (T), and diverse (D). The T pattern was characterized by low dietary diversity, with maize and maize foods accounting for ~47% of energy intake. This pattern had the lowest contribution of most food groups, with the exception of beans (~4.0%). The RS pattern had the highest contribution of alcohol (9.4%), soft drinks (9.4%), white bread (7.7%), fast food, sweets, and snacks. The D pattern had the lowest contribution of maize (15.5%) and the highest contribution of whole-fat dairy (8.0%), rice and pasta, meat, poultry, eggs, saturated fat, fruits, and vegetables. After adjusting for age, gender, physical activity, socioeconomic status, area, and region, the RS and D dietary patterns were associated with 14 and 17% increased risk of being overweight (P < 0.01) and 20% increased risk of being obese, respectively, compared with the T dietary pattern (P < 0.001). These findings support an association of dietary patterns with being overweight or obese in a nationally representative sample of Mexican adults.

[Dietary patterns in Mexican adolescent girls. A comparison of two methods. National Nutrition Survey, 1999]. / Patrones dietarios en adolescentes mexicanas. Una comparación de dos métodos. Encuesta Nacional de Nutrición, 1999.

OBJECTIVE: To identify dietary patterns in Mexican female adolescents by two statistic methods. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 477 women 12 to 19 years of age -National Nutrition Survey, 1999. Dietary patterns were obtained by factor and cluster analyses. RESULTS: Three dietary patterns were identified by cluster analysis: "Urban-poor" [U] (9.7%), "Rural" [R] (47.9%), and "Western" [W] (42.3%). Pattern [U] was characterized by a sizeable intake of maize products (20%) and industrialized foods (17%). Maize products and legumes predominated in the [R] pattern (48% and 6% of total energy, respectively). In the [W] pattern, wheat products and meat contributed 19% and 10.6% of energy, respectively. Moreover, four dietary patterns were identified through factor analysis. Factor 1 had a positive loading factor on wheat products, desserts, and meat. Factor 2 was characterized by a high consumption of low-fat dairy and low-fiber breakfast cereals. Factor 3 had a high loading for sweetened beverages and industrialized foods. Factor 4 had a moderate loading on maize products and legumes. CONCLUSION: We identified dietary patterns in Mexican adolescent girls by two methods, obtaining comparable results between methods.

Patrones dietarios en adolescentes mexicanas. Una comparación de dos métodos. Encuesta Nacional de Nutrición, 1999 / Dietary patterns in Mexican adolescent girls. A comparison of two methods. National Nutrition Survey, 1999

OBJETIVO: El estudio de patrones dietarios ha demostrado su utilidad en la investigación para entender la relación entre dieta y salud. En este trabajo se buscó identificar patrones de dieta en adolescentes mexicanas a través de dos métodos estadísticos. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se llevó a cabo un estudio transversal con 477 mujeres de 12-19 años (Encuesta Nacional de Nutrición 1999). Se caracterizaron patrones dietarios por medio de análisis de factores y de conglomerados. RESULTADOS: Se identificaron tres patrones dietarios por conglomerados "urbano"[U], 9.7 por ciento, "rural" [R], 47.9 por ciento y "occidental" [O], 42.3 por ciento. Por aporte energético, los principales grupos de alimentos en el patrón [U] fueron el maíz (20 por ciento) e industrializados (17 por ciento). En el patrón [R] predominaron el maíz (48 por ciento), los alimentos de trigo y leguminosas (~6 por ciento c/u). En [O] el trigo (19 por ciento) y las carnes rojas (11 por ciento). Asimismo, se identificaron cuatro patrones dietarios por el método de factores. En el factor uno predominaron los productos de trigo, postres, botanas y carnes. El factor dos se caracterizó por consumo alto de lácteos bajos en grasas y cereal de caja. El factor tres se caracterizó por consumo alto de refrescos e industrializados. En el factor cuatro predominaron el café, los dulces y las leguminosas. CONCLUSIONES: Se identificaron patrones dietarios en adolescentes mexicanas y los resultados de los dos métodos utilizados fueron comparables.

OBJECTIVE: To identify dietary patterns in Mexican female adolescents by two statistic methods. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 477 women 12 to 19 years of age -National Nutrition Survey, 1999. Dietary patterns were obtained by factor and cluster analyses. RESULTS: Three dietary patterns were identified by cluster analysis: "Urban-poor" [U] (9.7 percent), "Rural" [R] (47.9 percent), and "Western" [W] (42.3 percent). Pattern [U] was characterized by a sizeable intake of maize products (20 percent) and industrialized foods (17 percent). Maize products and legumes predominated in the [R] pattern (48 percent and 6 percent of total energy, respectively). In the [W] pattern, wheat products and meat contributed 19 percent and 10.6 percent of energy, respectively. Moreover, four dietary patterns were identified through factor analysis. Factor 1 had a positive loading factor on wheat products, desserts, and meat. Factor 2 was characterized by a high consumption of low-fat dairy and low-fiber breakfast cereals. Factor 3 had a high loading for sweetened beverages and industrialized foods. Factor 4 had a moderate loading on maize products and legumes. CONCLUSION: We identified dietary patterns in Mexican adolescent girls by two methods, obtaining comparable results between methods.