Gendered experiences of sexual abuse of teenagers and children in Mexico.

The prevalence of sexual abuse during childhood and adolescence in a national representative sample of Mexican youngsters is examined from a gender perspective using data from the 2007 National Survey on Exclusion, Intolerance and Violence in Public Institutions of High School Level Education. Of those surveyed, 1.76% were forced into their first experience of intercourse, and 6.43% had their genitalia touched or their first sexual interaction imposed against their will. In this sample, 6.82% had experienced sexual abuse before the age of 18. Child sexual abuse was most commonly perpetrated by family members and neighbors. Only 20% reported being abused by an unknown person. Males and females had different victimization experiences. Forty percent disclosed information about the abuse to another person, and 7% reported their experiences to law enforcement agencies. Males and females stated different reasons for not disclosing. These findings are discussed within the context of the social construction of the male and female body and sexuality in the Mexican context.

Social origin of contraceptive counseling practices by male doctors in Mexico.

Contraceptive counseling by physicians plays a decisive role in the contraceptive choices of their patients. We studied male physicians' contraceptive counseling and preferences in Mexico from a gender perspective. Specifically, through in-depth interviews with 31 male physicians working for public health institutions in Mexico, we examined reproductive health providers' contraceptive practices and perceptions about men's roles and responsibilities in reproduction. Through an interpretative analysis we identified the social processes involved in shaping contraceptive preferences. Of special importance are institutional and professional factors-related to prestige and economic concerns-framed by gender determinants which hinder the incorporation of practices that might contribute to gender equality in reproductive health. Thus, female contraceptive methods are preferred by physicians, and use of male contraceptive methods, especially vasectomy, is discouraged by them.

[Globalization and infectious diseases in Mexico's indigenous population]. / Globalización y enfermedades infecciosas en las poblaciones indígenas de México.

This paper discusses the health status of indigenous populations in Mexico. The first section characterizes the concept of globalization and its links to the population's health. Based on available statistical data, the second section documents the current indigenous populations' health status in the country. The article then argues that the presupposition of equity, crucial to globalization theory, does not apply to this case. Using the Mexican National Health Survey (2000), the third section further analyzes the health status of indigenous populations and identifies important inconsistencies in the data. The discussion section contends that these inconsistencies derive from the fact that such health surveys fail to contemplate the cultural specificities of indigenous peoples, thus leading to erroneous interpretations of the data. The article concludes that statistics on indigenous peoples' health must be interpreted with extreme caution and always with the support of social science theories and research methods.

Globalización y enfermedades infecciosas en las poblaciones indígenas de México / Globalization and infectious diseases in Mexico's indigenous population

Se presenta un análisis sobre la salud de los indígenas de México. La primera parte analiza el concepto de globalización y busca identificar sus principales vínculos con la salud de las poblaciones. La segunda muestra, con base en datos estadísticos, el grado de rezago en que se encuentran las poblaciones indígenas y el incumplimiento del presupuesto de equidad, central en la teoría de los beneficios de la globalización. La tercera parte presenta un análisis de la salud de los indígenas en México basado en los datos de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud 2000 y muestra la existencia de importantes inconsistencias de esta información. En la sección de discusión se propone que tales inconsistencias derivan del hecho de que las mediciones estadísticas no contemplan las particularidades culturales de los pueblos indígenas, lo que lleva a interpretaciones erróneas. Se concluye que las estadísticas de salud de los indígenas deben ser valoradas con precaución y atendiendo a los desarrollos alcanzados en las ciencias sociales.

This paper discusses the health status of indigenous populations in Mexico. The first section characterizes the concept of globalization and its links to the population's health. Based on available statistical data, the second section documents the current indigenous populations' health status in the country. The article then argues that the presupposition of equity, crucial to globalization theory, does not apply to this case. Using the Mexican National Health Survey (2000), the third section further analyzes the health status of indigenous populations and identifies important inconsistencies in the data. The discussion section contends that these inconsistencies derive from the fact that such health surveys fail to contemplate the cultural specificities of indigenous peoples, thus leading to erroneous interpretations of the data. The article concludes that statistics on indigenous peoples' health must be interpreted with extreme caution and always with the support of social science theories and research methods.

Strategies used by low-income Mexican women to deal with miscarriage and "spontaneous" abortion.

This study focuses on lowest income Mexican women attended for abortion-related complications in a public hospital. The objective was to investigate the women's experience of having a so-called "spontaneous" abortion and their related strategies to avoid stigmatization. Four strategies emerge from women's testimonies: presenting themselves as women who "play by the rules," pleading ignorance of the pregnancy, stating that they had already accepted their pregnancy, or presenting the abortion as the result of an accident. Women use these strategies to deflect any blame to which they might be subjected and as a means of dealing with the stigma attached to a behavior that transgresses social norms regarding reproduction. Far from being passive receptors of the social imperative, which makes motherhood compulsory, women oscillate strategically within the margins of a seemingly uniform normative discourse and thereby ensure their moral survival. The authors discuss results within the framework of praxis theory.

Los actores politicos y sociales en la formulación de la reforma sanitaria, en España / Social and political actors in the formulation of health reform in Spain

Analiza el proceso de formulación de la Ley General de Salud (LGS) en Espana con el propósito de conocer la relación entre la participación de actores sociales, políticos y conformación del sistema sanitario espanol. Se realizó un estudio de caso durante 1982-1986. Se nalizó información documental parlamentaria y prensa médica, principales diarios y revistas e informes y prensa de los actores políticos, sociales y sanitarios. La primera versión de LGS presentada por el PSOE propuso un sistema de salud con financiamiento y gestión pública para lograr cobertura universal, atención integral, participación comunitaria y educación sanitaria. Esta proposta fue sometida a compleja negociación con grupos empresariales, sindicatos, profesionales de salud. La LGS aprobada excluye los principios de equidad e incorpora los intereses económicos privados alerededor de la salud: "libre elección"médico-hospitalaria, financiamiento público y la gestión privada del sistema de salud, y estabelece a la seguridad social como rector del sistema.