Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

 Objective. To update information on the mortality trend due to lung cancer in Mexico from 1990 to 2016. Materials and methods. Age-adjusted rates were obtained using the direct method. The percentage of annual change in the mortality of lung cancer was obtained through joinpoint analysis at the national level, by region, sex and rural-urban stratum, and in the last two the age-cohort-period effect. Results. There was an annual decrease in mortality rates due to this neoplasm in the last 10 years, significantly higher in men (-3.5% CI95% -4.0,-2.9) than in women (-1.9% CI95% -2.1,-1.7), and a generational gap between men and women and urban-rural stratum with a decreasing trend in the risk of death. Conclusion. Mortality trends due to lung cancer from 1993 to 2016 show a decrease in different magnitudes and specific periods.

Objective. To measure the impact of an intervention on adolescents’ knowledge of the phase of the menstrual cycle with more likelihood of pregnancy and identify its associated factors. Materials and methods. A quasi-experimental study in two rural communities. Difference-in-differences analyses was performed. Results. There was a 22.1% average reduction in wrong answers on the phase of the menstrual cycle with more likelihood of pregnancy in the intervention group versus the control group (p<0.001). We founded six factors associated with this knowledge: marry and have chil­dren, right to receive education and information on sexual and reproductive health; gender equity; use of the condom; condom self-efficacy; emergency and contraceptive pills. Conclusion. There is a prevailing need to improve -among sexuality topics- basic knowledge of reproductive biology, while at the same time insisting on the benefits of using birth control methods provided for practicing responsible sexuality.

Objective. To determine the association of risky eating behaviors and the home with the percentage of body fat in adolescents, modified by gender. Materials and methods. We analyzed the information of a cohort of 2 388 adolescents from Morelos in Mexico, from 2004 to 2007. Descriptive techniques and multiple linear regression models of mixed effects were performed. Results. The change in body fat percentage (PGC) is -1.4 percentage points, in men -3.1, in women 0.2. The change of the PGC in relation to CAR’s and the household is different by sex. The multiple model shows that diet is associated with an increase in PGC (1.25 IC95% 0.68-1.83) in women, in men of 1.74 (95% CI 0.60-2.88). In relation with the family, women show a positive relationship with the increase in the percentage of body fat according to whether they feel that their family does not love them sometimes or never (value p of trend <0.001), men show in the variable “Satisfied with the help your family receives”, a marginal association. Conclusions. Performing a diet with­out supervision is associated with an increase in the PGC, giving an effect contrary to what is desired. This is associated with family relationships, and is different between sex.

Bisphenol A (BPA), found in plastics and epoxy resins, is one of the most studied chemicals. BPA is regarded as an endocrine disruptor and has been related to adverse health effects in humans. However, some regulatory agencies around the world have concluded that BPA is safe at current human exposure levels. As the scientific community attempts to settle the debate on BPA’s health effects, regulatory agen­cies have been put into a challenging public health policy situation. The United States has implemented no regulatory actions due to safety concerns, while Europe has used the precautionary principle to guide its regulation in the face of scientific uncertainty. In this paper, we explore the debate surrounding BPA regulation and the possibility for countries to introduce guidelines, using Mexico as an example. Policy change determinants analysis suggest that countries can and should impose regulations on BPA.

With the introduction of rotavirus vaccines Rotarix (RV1) or RotaTeq (RV5) in the immunization programs of an increasing number of countries, there is concern that the immune selec­tion pressure induced will cause an increase in the prevalence of virus genotypes not included in the vaccine formulation, or to the appearance of novel rotavirus strains that could evade the protective immune response. The natural fluctuation of rotaviruses makes it difficult to distinguish if the change in the circulating strains is due to the vaccine selective pressure or to the natural diversity fluctuation of viruses. If there has been a selective pressure, it has been low so far. However, it is important to keep an epidemiological surveillance and pay attention to the emergence of strains that are resistant to the vaccine, in particular in those countries where the viral diversity has been shown to be higher. 

Objective. To describe the rationale and the method­ology of a multicenter project to study the etiology of breast cancer in young Latin American women. Materials and methods. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has established an international collaborative population-based case-control study in four countries in Latin America: Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Mexico (the PRECAMA study). Standardized methodologies were developed to collect information on reproductive variables, lifestyle, anthropometry, diet, clinical and pathological data, and biological specimens. The study will be extended to other countries in the region. Conclusion. PRECAMA is unique in its multidisciplinary approach that combines genet­ics, genomics, and metabolomics with lifestyle factors. The data generated through this project will be instrumental to identify major risk factors for molecular subtypes of breast cancer in young women, which will be important for pre­vention and targeted screening programs in Latin America.

Cervical cancer has decreased significantly over the past 30 years in some countries. However, it remains among the leading causes of cancer deaths in low-income, and racial/ethnic minority women. Cervical cancer prevention technologies are not always available. Laboratories are often not well equipped to use them. HPV information has not been widely disseminated. WHO guidelines, and US and Latin American data provide context for strategies on effective interventions to reduce cervical cancer disparities. Systemic, personal and cultural barriers, combined with decision-making guidelines, and impactful messaging can accelerate reductions in cervical cancer health inequities in the Americas.

Nuestros sistemas alimentarios producen, procesan y distribuyen alimentos que dan sustento a los aproximadamente 7,700 millones de humanos que habitamos el planeta. En las últimas cinco décadas ha habido una disminución global de desnutrición, hambre, pobreza extrema y mortalidad en menores de cinco años, al tiempo que ha aumentado la esperanza de vida. Sin embargo, estos logros se ven ensombrecidos por el aumento inusitado en el consumo de dietas poco saludables, que aumentan el riesgo de obesidad y enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles y muerte prematura. A pesar de la disminución de las carencias alimentarias, persisten grandes grupos poblacionales que padecen problemas de desnutrición, deficiencias de micronutrientes e inseguridad alimentaria.  Por si esto fuera poco, los mismos sistemas alimentarios que han propiciado los aumentos de enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles sin haber logrado erradicar las carencias nutricionales, son parcialmente responsables de la degradación de nuestro planeta.

Objective. Characterize the use of condoms in the first and last sexual intercourse in different birth cohorts, to observe possible differences among generations. Materials and methods. Using the National Survey of Boys, Girls and Women, 2015, representative at the national level, we adjust Poisson regression models to find associations between variables of interest and the use of condoms in first and last intercourse. Results.Women from younger cohorts, with higher education and wealth are more likely to use a condom in their first and last sexual intercourse; speaking an indigenous language is associated with a lower likelihood of condom use at both events. Using condom in sexual debut increases the likelihood of using in last intercourse. Conclu­sions.There is a generational change in condom use at first and last sex among younger cohorts. The use of the condom in sexual debut favors its later use.

The transfer of technology from health research institutions to businesses that develop new medical treatments has generated great benefits for public health at a global level. Mexico however, is lagging in innovation indicators. There are important cultural, regulatory, and financial barriers that limit innovation in Mexico. However recent years have seen the appearance of several useful initiatives that constitute progress in the right direction. This work provides a brief overview of the current situation of innovation in Mexico, describes the main barriers and gives recommendations that can promote health innovation in Mexico, which can contribute to improvements in public health.