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

Objective. To describe infant and young child feeding indicators in children under 24 months of age in Mexico. Materials and methods. Analysis of the Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición 2021 and 2022 (Ensanut 2021-2022) in women aged 14-59 and their children under 24 months (<24 months). The indicators were calculated considering the sample design of the surveys. Results. The 33.6% of children <6 months received exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) and 27.2% of children <24 months did not receive EBF during the first three days of life, and were fed with commercial infant formula (CIF) or another liquid. Also, 42% of children between 6 and 23 months consumed unhealthy foods. Conclusions. Infant and young child feeding practices in Mexico must be protected through policies that regulate the commercialization of CIF and promote a work, social and political environment suitable for breastfeeding and infant care, so that parents and other caregivers can adopt adequate breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices.

Objective. To describe the prevalence of obesity in adults, measured through the body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC), stratifying by risk factors and comorbidities. Materials and methods. Information from 8 563 participants in the Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición 2022 (Ensanut 2022) was analyzed. Obesity was classified by BMI and CC. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated to associate obesity with risk factors and diagnosis of comorbidities. Results. The prevalence of overweight was 38.3%, obesity by BMI 36.9% and abdominal obesity (AO) 81.0%. Women had a higher OR (1.4) of having obesity and OA (2.5). Obese adults have a greater probability of being diagnosed with diabetes (OR 1.7), hypertension (3.6) and dyslipidemia (OR 2.3) than adults with normal BMI. Conclusions. The prevalence of obesity in Mexican adults is one of the highest worldwide and is associated with the most frequent risk factors and chronic diseases. Multisectoral public policies are required to prevent and control obesity.

Objective. To estimate with data from the continuous Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición 2022 (Ensanut 2022), the national prevalence of suicidal behaviors in the adolescent and adult population, by sociodemographic characteristics. Materials and methods. Based on the Ensanut 2022, we analyzed similar questions in adolescents and adults related to lifetime and last-year suicide attempts. Results. 7.6% of the adolescent and 7.7% of the adult population ever thought about committing suicide. The prevalence of lifetime suicide attempted was 6.5% in adolescents and 3.5% in adults. The prevalence of last-year suicide attempts was 3.1% in adolescents and 0.6% in adults. Women reported the highest prevalence of suicide behaviors analyzed. Conclusion. Our findings reinforce the importance of placing youth suicide prevention as a priority on the national health agenda.  

Objective. To describe the selection of health care providers for a health need among the Mexican population in 2022. Materials and methods. We used the Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición Continua 2022. Results. From 24.6% of the population that reported a health need in the last three months, 44% received care in public health facilities. The use of private services was extensive but was higher for the population without social security. We found that 71% of the reasons for not selecting the facility of their affiliation is access and 21%, perceived quality. The reasons to select the facility where they received care included affiliation, distance and cost; quality aspects were rapid care and satisfaction with service. Conclusions. Improving access (distance, service hours, bureaucratic barriers) could help reduce the inequalities on health care access and out-of pocket expenditures associated with the use of private services, particularly among the population without social security.

Objective. To describe the prevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, vaccination, barriers and rejection of Covid-19 vaccination in the Mexican population. Materials and methods. We used information from household members aged one year and older from the Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición Continua 2022 (Ensanut Continua 2022) survey from August-November. We estimated the prevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 N and S proteins in capillary blood samples, reported doses of vaccination to Covid-19 and the reasons for barriers and rejection of vaccination. Results. The prevalence of anti-N antibodies was 94.4% and anti-S, 98.1%. The prevalence of anti-S antibodies was higher in people vaccinated with one, two, or three or more doses than in those who were not vaccinated. Within the population eligible for vaccination, 20.2% had not been vaccinated, 16.2% had one dose, 30% two doses, and 33.6% three or more doses. The 11.2% of the eligible population refused vaccination, 5.5% reported a barrier and 3.2% reported that the vaccine had not reached their locality. Conclusion. The prevalence of antibodies from natural infection and from Covid-19 vaccination is high in Mexico. Variations in refusal and barriers to vaccination between age groups and regions must be taken into account to intensify specific vaccination efforts.

Objective. To know the prevalence of early childhood development (ECD), its determinants, and exposure to violent discipline methods among Mexican children in 2022. Materials and methods. We estimated the ECD, its determinants, and exposure to violent discipline methods indicators following the methodology of Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS). We calculated the prevalence for each indicator and disaggregated it by children and sociodemographic characteristics. Results. We found that 19.3% of children aged 24 to 59 months were not developmentally on track. There exists a low attendance to early learning programs (7.1%) and preschool (62.4%). Among children younger than five years old 41.7% did not have access to children’s books and 8.1% had inadequate care. Additionally, 55.5% of children aged 1 to 14 years old were exposed to violent discipline methods. Conclusion. The results allow us to know children’s situation and guide the public policy aimed to this population.

Objective. To estimate the smoking and e-cigarette usage prevalence in Mexican adolescent and adult population in 2022. Materials and methods. We used the Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición 2022 to estimate the prevalence of smoking and e-cigarette use, considering sociodemographic variables. Results. The smoking and former smoking prevalence in the adolescent population were 4.6 and 3.7%, while in adults were 19.5 and 17.8%, respectively. Smoking was higher in urban and metropolitan areas, compared to rural ones. Differences by educational level and region of residence were found. The prevalence of e-cigarette usage was 2.6% among adolescents and 1.5% among adults. Conclusion. Smoking remains a serious public health problem in Mexico. Accelerating full implementation of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control is a priority.

Objective. To estimate the prevalence of prediabetes and diabetes in the Mexican adult population. Materials and methods. We used information from a subsample of the Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición 2022 that provided a10 ml blood sample. We excluded 150 individuals fasting for less than 8 hours and four people with gestational diabetes. The final sample was 1 945 adults, which expanded to 78.3 million adults. Results. The prevalence of prediabetes was 22.1%, the prevalence of diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes was 12.6 and 5.8%, respectively, resulting in a total diabetes prevalence of 18.3%. Conclusion. Diabetes in Mexico is highly prevalent and implies a significant challenge for the health system. Strong actions are required to prevent the disease, strengthen screening, timely diagnosis, and disease control.

Objective. To estimate the prevalence of depressive symptomatology in Mexican adolescents and adults. Materials and methods. The Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición 2022 evaluated the prevalence of depressive symptomatology using the CESD-7 scale. In adolescents, we estimated the average score, and in adults the prevalence of depressive symptomatology according to preestablished cut-off points. Results. In adolescents the average score was 3.2. In adults, 16.7% had depressive symptomatology, with a higher prevalence in older adults (38.3%). We observed a higher prevalence among women, adults in the low well-being index, and older adult residents of rural areas. Conclusion. The prevalence of depressive symptomatology among adults has been stable from 2018-19 to date. However, the diagnosis and treatment of depression must be oriented to populations with a higher prevalence like women, adults with low well-being index, and residents of rural areas.

Objective. To determine the national prevalence of functional difficulty among children, adolescents, and adults. Materials and methods. The Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición 2022 used the disability modules from United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) and Washington Group. We estimated prevalence and 95% confidence intervals of functional difficulties. Results. While 14.4% of those 2-17 years old have at least one functional difficulty, 3.9% of children 2-4 years old and 16.7% of children and adolescents 5-17 years old have at least one functional difficulty. Among adults, 9.7% have at least one functional difficulty, with higher prevalence among women (11.3%) and people with a low well-being index (12.2%). Conclusion. One in ten adults in Mexico have functional difficulty and this is higher among women and people with low well-being. The Mexican State must detect potentially treatable functional difficulties and establish programs to modify the environment and provide services to facilitate people's functionality.