No abstract

Objective. To describe the methods and analyses of the 1999 National Nutrition Survey (NNS-99). Material and Methods. The 1999 National Nutrition Survey (NNS-99) is a probabilistic survey with nationwide representativity. The NNS-99 included four regions and urban and rural areas of Mexico. The last sampling units were households, selected through stratified cluster sampling. The study population consisted of children under five years of age, schoolage children (6-11 years), and women of childbearing age (12-49 years). Data were collected on anthropometric measurements, hemoglobin levels, morbidity and its determinants, and socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. In addition, data on diet and micronutrients intakes (iron, zinc, vitamin A, folic acid, vitamin C, and iodine) were obtained in a sub-sample of subjects. Results. The response rate for the NNS-99 was 82.3%; the non-response rate was 5.9% and the remaining did not participate due to uninhabited houses. Conclusions. This survey updates the information on nutritional status in Mexico and should serve as the basis for food and nutrition policy-making and priority program design. The English version of this paper is available too at: http://www.insp.mx/salud/index.html Key words: national surveys; nutrition; children; women; anthropometry; anemia; micronutrients; diet; Mexico ResumenObjetivo. Describir la metodología y análisis de la Encuesta Nacional de Nutrición 1999 (ENN-99). Material y metódos. La ENN-99 es probabilística, con representatividad nacional de cuatro regiones y estratos urbano/rural. Las unidades últimas de muestras son los hogares seleccionados por muestreo estratificado y por conglomerados. La población de estudio fueron los niños menores de cinco años de edad, los niños 6-11 años (escolares) y las mujeres de 12-49 años, en quienes se obtuvieron mediciones antropométricas, niveles de hemoglobina, información sobre morbilidad y sus determinantes, datos socieconómicos y demográficos, y en una submuestra se determinaron micronutrimentos (hierro, zinc, vitamina A, ácido fólico, vitamina C, yoduria) y se obtuvo información sobre dieta.Resultados. La Encuesta obtuvo una tasa de respuesta de 82.3%, la no respuesta se asoció en 5.9% a no respuesta del informante y el resto fue ocasionado por no estar habitadas las viviendas seleccionadas. Conclusiones. La información obtenida a través de esta encuesta actualiza la información existente en nuestro país y es la base para la formulación de políticas y programas prioritarios. El texto completo en inglés de este artículo también está disponible en: http://www.insp.mx/ salud/index.html

An outbreak of classical dengue fever occurred from March to August 1988 in the city of Taxco, Guerrero State, Mexico. Taxco is at an elevation of 1,700 meters above sea level, and this study represents the highest altitude at which an outbreak of dengue has been documented. An investigation was conducted to obtain serologic confirmation of dengue infection, determine the extent of the outbreak, and identify risk factors for dengue illness. Toxorhynchites cell lines were used for viral isolation, and hemagglutination inhibition was used to measure anti-dengue antibody titers. The case definition used in the investigation was any person with fever, headache, myalgias, and arthralgias, or rash or retroocular pain. Dengue virus type 1 was isolated from five acute cases. Of 1,686 persons living in the affected area, 42% (715) met the case definition. Large (200-liter) water containers were significantly associated with infection (relative risk = 1.7, 95% confidence interval 1.5-1.9). The effect of altitude on epidemic transmission is most likely modulated by seasonal temperatures. The epidemiologic and serologic confirmation of a dengue outbreak at 1,700 meters above sea level represents the capability of Aedes aegypti to adapt to new environments, and the potential for epidemic spread in cities at comparable altitudes or higher.

This survey was conducted with the support from the Secretaría de Salud.

No abstract

S466salud To compare the prevalence of undernutrition and anemia in indigenous and non-indigenous children <5 years of age at the national level, by region and by urban and rural areas, and to evaluate the degree to which the socioeconomic condition of the family predicts the differences. Material and Methods. A national probabilistic survey was conducted in Mexico in 1999. Indigenous families were identified as those in which at least one woman 12-49 years of age in the household spoke a native language. The prevalence of undernutrition (stunting, wasting and underweight) and anemia was compared between indigenous and nonindigenous children. Probability ratios (PR) were used to compare prevalences in indigenous and non-indigenous children adjusting for socioeconomic status (SES) of the family and for other covariates. Results. The prevalences of stunting and underweight were greater in indigenous than in nonindigenous children. At the national level and in urban areas the prevalences were three times greater and in rural areas 2 times greater (p<0.05). No differences were found in the prevalence of wasting (p>0.05). The prevalence of anemia in indigenous children was one third greater than in non-indigenous children at the national level (p<0.05) and was between 30 and 60% greater in urban areas and in the regions studied (p<0.05) but was not statistically significant (p>0.05) in rural areas. These differences were reduced to about half when adjusting for SES but remained significantly

No abstract

To assess the prevalence of HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency virus) infection among high-risk populations in Tijuana, Mexico, HIV-1 antibody status was determined and information on risk behavior was obtained from 1,069 individuals in three high-risk groups. The prevalence of HIV-1 among 415 prostitutes was 0.5 percent; 410 prisoners, 1.2 percent; 233 homosexual/bisexual men, 11.6 percent; and 106 intravenous drug abusers, 1.9 percent. The potential for spread of HIV-1 exists in Tijuana despite the current relatively low seroprevalence of HIV-1.