ABSTRACT
Compromised water quality risks public health, which becomes particularly acute in economically marginalized communities. Although the majority of the clean-water-deprived population resides in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, a significant portion (32 million) lives in Meso- and Latin-America. Oaxaca is one of the marginalized southern states of Mexico, which has experienced high morbidity from infectious diseases and also has suffered from a high rate of infant mortality. However, there has been a paucity of reports on the status of water quality of culturally diverse rural Oaxaca. This study follows community-based participatory research methods to address the data gap by reporting on water quality (chemical and microbiological) and by exploring social realities and water use practices within and among communities. Surveys and water quality analyses were conducted on 73 households in three rural communities, which were selected based on the choice of water sources (i.e., river water, groundwater, and spring water). Statistically significant variations among communities were observed including the sanitation infrastructure (p-value 0.001), public perception on water quality (p-value 0.007), and actual microbiological quality of water (p-value 0.001). Results indicate a high prevalence of diarrheal diseases, a desire to improve water quality and reduce the cost of water, and a need for education on water quality and health in all the surveyed communities. The complexities among the three studied communities highlight the need for undertaking appropriate policies and water treatment solutions.
ABSTRACT
Objetivos: Estudiar la relación entre los valores de plomo en la sangre (VPS) y la adecuación (%) en el consumo de nutrientes en mujeres del sur de México. Métodos: Participaron 424 embarazadas. Se aplicó un cuestionario de frecuencia de consumo de alimentos referido al año anterior. Se estimó la prevalencia de VPS elevados (> 10 μg/dl, según la Norma Oficial Mexicana [NOM] 199 SSA 1-2000 y el Center for Disease Control and Prevention de Estados Unidos, 2007). Resultados: La media de adecuación de la ingesta de cinc, calcio, hierro total, hierro hem, vitamina C y vitamina A fue del 37,4, el 88,2, el 38,5, el 12,8, el 78,9 y el 84,6%, respectivamente. La prevalencia de VPS elevados fue del 41,5% y el riesgo concomitante estuvo explicado por la edad > 35 años (odds ratio [OR] = 3,8 [1,4-10,3] con respecto a las de edad < 25 años; p = 0,01), concentraciones bajas de hemoglobina en sangre (< 12 g/ dl) (OR = 3,1 [1,9-5]; p < 0,0001), índice de masa corporal ≥ 30 (OR = 1,9 [1,1-3,5]; p = 0,026), uso de piezas de cerámica vidriada en la preparación y/o el consumo de alimentos (OR = 2,3 [1,5-3,6]; p < 0,0001), adecuación en el consumo de hierro hem < 20% (OR = 2,7 [1,1-6,6]; p = 0,025), adecuación en el consumo de calcio < 80% (OR = 1,4 [1-2]; p = 0,056], adecuación en el consumo de cinc del 50-99% (OR = 1,9 [1-3,5]; p = 0,038) y adecuación < 50% (OR = 4,3 [2,2-8,7]; p = 0,044) con respecto a quienes consumían el 100% o más de los valores recomendados. Conclusiones: El déficit en el consumo de hierro hem, calcio y cinc está asociado a mayor riesgo de VPS elevados, que también tuvieron relación con anemia, consumo de alimentos en piezas de cerámica vidriada, obesidad y mayor edad(AU)
Objectives: To analyze the association between blood lead levels and nutrient consumption, as well as associated factors, in women from southern Mexico. Methods: A total of 424 pregnant women participated in this study by completing a questionnaire on the frequency of food consumption in the previous year. The prevalence of high blood lead levels (>10 µg/dL) was defined according to the Mexican Official Norm (NOM- 199 SSA 1-2000) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, USA, 2007. Results: The mean percentage of adequacy of intake of zinc, calcium, total-iron, heme-iron, vitamin C and vitamin A was 37.4%, 88.2%, 38.5%, 12.8%, 78.9% and 84.6%, respectively. The prevalence of high blood lead levels was 41.5%. The risk associated with the prevalence of high blood lead levels was explained by age >35 years old [OR: 3.8 (1.4,10.3)] compared with age <25 years old (P=0.010), low blood hemoglobin levels (< 12g/dL) [OR: 3.1 (1.9, 5.0)] (P<0.0001), body mass index 30 Kg/m2 [OR: 1.9 (1.1, 3.5)], (P=0.026); compliance with heme-iron recommendations <20% [OR: 2.7(1.1, 6.6)], (P=0.025), calcium recommendations <80% [OR: 1.4 (1.0, 2.0)] (P=0.056), and zinc recommendations 50-99% [OR: 1.9 (1.0, 3.5)] (P=0.038), and <50% adequacy [OR: 4.3 (2.2, 8.7)] (P = 0.044) with respect to persons consuming 100% or more of recommended intake. Conclusions: Low heme-iron, zinc and calcium consumption was associated with a higher risk of high blood lead levels, which in turn were also associated with anemia, food consumption from ceramic plates and containers, obesity and older age(AU)
