Relaciones familiares desde la perspectiva de adolescentes de Querétaro, México: un estudio a partir del enfoque de la democratización familiar / Family relations from the perspective of adolescents from Querétaro, Mexico: a study based on the approach of family democratization

Las familias han estado sufriendo múltiples transformaciones en las últimas cinco décadas, experimentando cambios en su estructura, organización y sistema de relaciones. Esta investigación se da a la tarea de hacer una evaluación del grado de democratización con que los adolescentes perciben a sus familias, en el contexto de la ciudad de Querétaro (México). Utilizamos un enfoque cuantitativo con la aplicación de un cuestionario a adolescentes de secundaria (n = 286, M = 13.01±1.02 años) para medir cuatro rasgos de democratización familiar: convivencia, comunicación, violencia y autoritarismo. Encontramos una tendencia en la percepción entre adolescentes hacia evaluar a sus familias con rasgos de democratización. Sin embargo, aún hay rezagos del autoritarismo que se manifiestan en el ejercicio de la violencia como un medio para enfrentar los problemas intrafamiliares, presente en casi la mitad de los hogares estudiados (47.6%). Los hallazgos son un desafío para académicos/as y profesionales dedicados a la prevención de la violencia, para crear nuevas estrategias capaces de promover la justicia en las relaciones familiares.

During the last five decades, families have been undergoing multiple transformations, experiencing changes in their structure, organization and relationships. This research evaluates the degree of democratization with which adolescents perceive their families, in the context of the city of Querétaro (Mexico). This research uses a quantitative approach applying a questionnaire to high-school adolescents (n = 286, M = 13.01±1.02 years) in order to measure four features of family democratization: family coexistence, communication, violence and authoritarianism. We found a tendency in the perception of adolescents to evaluate their families with traces of democratization. However, there are still traces of authoritarianism that manifest in the use of violence as a means to deal with family problems, which is present in almost half of the households studied (47.6%). Findings present a challenge to academics and professionals dedicated to prevent violence, so as to create new strategies to promote justice in family coexistence.

Comparative serology techniques for the diagnosis of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in a rural population from the state of Querétaro, Mexico

Immunological diagnostic methods for Trypanosoma cruzi depend specifically on the presence of antibodies and parasitological methods lack sensitivity during the chronic and “indeterminate” stages of the disease. This study performed a serological survey of 1,033 subjects from 52 rural communities in 12 of the 18 municipalities in the state of Querétaro, Mexico. We detected anti-T. cruzi antibodies using the following tests: indirect haemagglutination assay (IHA), indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), ELISA and recombinant ELISA (rELISA). We also performed Western blot (WB) analysis using iron superoxide dismutase (FeSOD), a detoxifying enzyme excreted by the parasite, as the antigen. Positive test results were distributed as follows: ELISA 8%, rELISA 6.2%, IFA and IHA 5.4% in both cases and FeSOD 8%. A comparative study of the five tests was undertaken. Sensitivity levels, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, concordance percentage and kappa index were considered. Living with animals, trips to other communities, gender, age, type of housing and symptomatology at the time of the survey were statistically analysed using SPSS software v.11.5. Detection of the FeSOD enzyme that was secreted by the parasite and used as an antigenic fraction in WBs showed a 100% correlation with traditional ELISA tests.