Impact of the 'Seguro Médico Siglo XXI' medical insurance programme on neonatal and infant mortality in Mexico, 2006-14: an ecological approach to estimation.

The 'Seguro Médico Siglo XXI' (SMSXXI), a universal coverage medical insurance programme for children under 5 years of age, started in 2006 to help avoid catastrophic health expenditures in poor families without social security in Mexico. The study used information from the National Health Information System for the 2006-14 period. An ecological approach was followed with a panel of the 2457 municipalities of Mexico as the units of analysis. The outcome variables were the municipality-level neonatal mortality and infant mortality rates in population without access to social security. The programme variable was the coverage of the SMSXXI programme at the municipality level, expressed as a proportion. Demographic and economic variables defined at the municipality level were included as covariates. Impact was estimated by fitting a fixed-effects negative binomial regression model. Results reveal that the SMSXXI significantly reduced both infant and neonatSal mortality in the target population, although in a non-linear fashion, with minimum mortality levels found around the 70% coverage range. The effect is mostly given by the transition from the first quintile to the fourth quintile of coverage (<13% vs 70.5-93.7% coverage), and it is attenuated significantly at coverage levels very close to or at 100%. The observed risk reduction amounted to an estimated total of 11 358 infant deaths being avoided due to the SMSXXI during the 2006-14 period, of which 48% were neonatal. In conclusion, we found a significant impact of the SMSXXI programme on both infant mortality and neonatal mortality. An attenuation of the effect of the insurance on mortality rates at levels close to 100% coverage may reflect the saturation of health units in detriment of the quality of care.

The intellectual developmental disorders Mexico study: situational diagnosis, burden, genomics and intervention proposal / Estudio sobre trastornos del desarrollo intelectual en México: diagnóstico situacional, carga, genómica y propuesta de intervenciones

Abstract: Objective: This study aims to generate evidence on intellectual development disorders (IDD) in Mexico. Materials and methods: IDD disease burden will be estimated with a probabilistic model, using population-based surveys. Direct and indirect costs of catastrophic expenses of families with a member with an IDD will be evaluated. Genomic characterization of IDD will include: sequencing participant exomes and performing bioinformatics analyses to identify de novo or inherited variants through trio analysis; identifying genetic variants associated with IDD, and validating randomly selected variants by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing or real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). Delphi surveys will be done on best practices for IDD diagnosis and management. An external evaluation will employ qualitative case studies of two social and labor inclusion programs for people with IDD. Conclusions: The results will constitute scientific evidence for the design, promotion and evaluation of public policies, which are currently absent on IDD.

Resumen: Objetivo: Esta investigación busca generar evidencia sobre trastornos del desarrollo intelectual (TDI) en México. Material y métodos: La carga de la enfermedad por TDI se estimará con un modelo probabilístico usando encuestas poblacionales. Se estimarán costos directos e indirectos de gastos catastróficos de familias con un integrante conTDI. La caracterización genómica deTDI incluirá secuenciar exomas, realizar análisis bioinformático para identificar variantes de novo o heredadas a través de análisis de tríos, identificar variantes genéticas asociadas con TDI, y validar variantes aleatoriamente seleccionadas con reacción en cadena de polimerasa y secuenciación o qPCR. Se harán encuestas Delphi sobre mejores prácticas de diagnóstico y manejo de TDI. Una evaluación externa empleará estudios cualitativos de caso de dos programas de inclusión social y laboral para personas con TDI. Conclusiones: Los resultados serán evidencia científica que podrá ser la base para el diseño, promoción y evaluación de políticas públicas, actualmente ausentes para TDI.

Evolution of health coverage in Mexico: evidence of progress and challenges in the Mexican health system.

To consolidate an effective and efficient universal health care coverage requires a deep understanding of the challenges faced by the health care system in providing services demanded by population in need. This study analyses the dynamics of health insurance coverage and effective access coverage to some health interventions in Mexico. It examines the evolution of inequalities and heterogeneous performance of the insurance subsystems incorporated under the Mexican health care system. Two types of coverage indicators were selected: health insurance and effective access to preventive health interventions intended for normative population. Data were drawn from National Health and Nutrition Surveys 2006 and 2012. The economic inequality was estimated using the Standardized Concentration Index by household per capita consumption expenditure as socioeconomic-status indicator. Approximately 75% of the population reported being covered by one of the existing insurance schemes, representing a huge step forward from 2006, when as much as 51.62% of the population had no health insurance. About 87% of this growth was attributable to the expansion of Non Contributory Health Insurance whereas 7% emanated from the Social Security subsystem. The results revealed that inequality in access to health insurance was virtually eradicated; however, traces of unequal access persisted in some subpopulations groups. Coverage indicators of effective access showed a slight improvement in the period analysed, but prenatal care and interventions to prevent chronic disease still presented a serious shortage. Furthermore, there was no evidence that inequities in coverage of these interventions have decreased in recent years. The results provided a mixed picture, generalizable to the system as a whole, expansion of insurance status represents one of the most remarkable advances that have not been accompanied by a significant improvement in effective access. In addition, existing inequalities are part of the most important challenges to be faced by the Mexican health system.

The intellectual developmental disorders Mexico study: situational diagnosis, burden, genomics and intervention proposal.

OBJECTIVE:: This study aims to generate evidence on intellectual development disorders (IDD) in Mexico. MATERIALS AND METHODS:: IDD disease burden will be estimated with a probabilistic model, using population-based surveys. Direct and indirect costs of catastrophic expenses of families with a member with an IDD will be evaluated. Genomic characterization of IDD will include: sequencing participant exomes and performing bioinformatics analyses to identify de novo or inherited variants through trio analysis; identifying genetic variants associated with IDD, and validating randomly selected variants by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing or real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). Delphi surveys will be done on best practices for IDD diagnosis and management. An external evaluation will employ qualitative case studies of two social and labor inclusion programs for people with IDD. CONCLUSIONS:: The results will constitute scientific evidence for the design, promotion and evaluation of public policies, which are currently absent on IDD.

Poverty and gender perspective in productive projects for rural women in Mexico: impact evaluation of a pilot project.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of a pilot study that promoted productive and capacity-building activities among deprived rural women of Mexico. The evaluation design is observational; 1,278 women are interviewed, and the comparison group is estimated by propensity score matching. The results show a positive impact on the carrying out of agricultural activities, in the autonomy of women in decision making, as does their perception of their role in the household. However, the project does not decrease the number of hours set aside for household chores or improve the women's technical and administrative skills.

[Health expenditure related to disability. A study with poor population in Mexico]. / El gasto en salud relacionado con la condición de discapacidad. Un análisis en población pobre de México.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effect of disability and incapacity in health expenditure in poor households in Mexico. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is an analysis of baseline survey of the Oportunidades evaluation. Households with siblings with structural disability or incapacity were identified, and health expenditure was estimated. RESULTS: In 15314 households analyzed, 10.1% had a sibling with structural disability, and 13.4% with mild or severe incapacity. The presence of structural disability was not associated with a higher expenditure in health care. The presence of mild or severe incapacity was associated with 97% higher expenditure in ambulatory care compared with households without incapacity. The poor households have higher health related expenditures. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the incapacity to develop day to day activities has a significant impact on the out of pocket health expenditure. This impact is higher in poor households.

El gasto en salud relacionado con la condición de discapacidad: un análisis en población pobre de México / Health expenditure related to disability: a study with poor population in Mexico

OBJETIVO: Estimar la relación entre discapacidad y gasto en salud en hogares pobres urbanos de México. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Con la Encuesta de Evaluación Urbana 2002 del Programa Oportunidades se identificaron hogares donde había personas con discapacidad estructural o con alguna limitación de actividades por enfermedad, y se estimó el gasto en salud ambulatorio y hospitalario. RESULTADOS: De 15314 hogares estudiados, 10.1 por ciento incluyó a personas con discapacidad estructural y 13.4 por ciento con limitación de actividades moderada o grave. La discapacidad estructural en el hogar no se asoció con un mayor gasto en salud. Hogares donde había personas con limitaciones graves o moderadas para realizar sus actividades gastaron 97 por ciento más en atención ambulatoria que los hogares sin personas incapacitadas. Los hogares más pobres gastan más en atención médica que los hogares menos pobres. CONCLUSIONES: Los resultados indican que la incapacidad para desarrollar actividades diarias tiene un importante efecto sobre el gasto de bolsillo, sobre todo en los hogares más pobres.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effect of disability and incapacity in health expenditure in poor households in Mexico. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is an analysis of baseline survey of the Oportunidades evaluation. Households with siblings with structural disability or incapacity were identified, and health expenditure was estimated. RESULTS: In 15314 households analyzed, 10.1 percent had a sibling with structural disability, and 13.4 percent with mild or severe incapacity. The presence of structural disability was not associated with a higher expenditure in health care. The presence of mild or severe incapacity was associated with 97 percent higher expenditure in ambulatory care compared with households without incapacity. The poor households have higher health related expenditures. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the incapacity to develop day to day activities has a significant impact on the out of pocket health expenditure. This impact is higher in poor households.