Analysis of some environmental barriers for physical activity Cuernavaca City, Morelos, México

Introduction: Physical activity (PA) is a factor of protection against multiple diseases. Global recommendations for PA are well established and are spread in all possible scenarios, but the built environment could present multiple barriers to follow these recommendations. Objective: To Analyze some built environment barriers for physical activity by levels of marginalization in the city of Cuernavaca, Mexico. Material and methods: Using the software Atlas ti 5.0, data from 170 observation guides and were categorized. The analysis of a photographic collection of 341 images of 20 AGEBS of Cuernavaca was performed using an analysis connotative and denotative by 3 categories (roadways, traffic and sports areas). Stata 12.0 software was used to obtain frequencies and percentages. Results: Deficiencies in the design and use of spaces such as sidewalks, lack of signage and insecurity of public roads were identified. Lack of spaces for the practice of physical activity was found. There is only one presence of 10% of sports facilities in the 20 AGEBS studied. It was found that 82.86% of the streets are in poor condition. Poor street lighting, lack of bicycle paths and graffiti with significant percentages were also identified as barriers to PA. Discussion: In Cuernavaca the possibilities of access to safe spaces for FA have multiple barriers, this negatively affects the health of the habitants of the city, and that is not consistent with global recommendations for physical activity. Conclusions: Identifying and abolishing barriers must be within the priorities of public health policies and interventions should seek this transformation, to improve the tendency to only report on benefits of physical activity prevailing in the vast majority of programs.Introducción: La actividad física (AF) es un factor de protección ante múltiples enfermedades. Las recomendaciones mundiales para la AF están bien establecidas y son difundidas en todos los escenarios posibles, pero el ambiente construido podría presentar múltiples barreras para seguir dichas recomendaciones. Objetivo: Analizar algunas barreras del ambiente construido para la actividad física por niveles de marginación en la ciudad de Cuernavaca, México. Materiales y métodos: Empleando el programa Atlas ti 5.0, se categorizaron los datos obtenidos de 170 guías de observación. Se realizó el análisis de un acervo fotográfico de 341 imágenes de 20 AGEBS de la ciudad de Cuernavaca, utilizando un análisis de imágenes fijas connotativo, denotativo y por 3 categorías (Calzadas, tránsito y espacios deportivos). Se utilizó el programa Stata 12.0 para obtener frecuencias y porcentajes. Resultados: Se identificaron deficiencias en el diseño y uso de espacios como las banquetas, falta de señalización e inseguridad de las vías públicas. Se encontró carencia de espacios para la práctica de la actividad física. Solo hay una presencia del 10% de espacios deportivos en los 20 AGEBS estudiados. Se encontró que el 82.86% de las calles está en deficiente estado. La deficiente iluminación vial, carencia de ciclovías y grafitis con porcentajes importantes también se identificaron como barreras para la AF. Discusión: En Cuernavaca las posibilidades de acceso a espacios seguros, presentan múltiples barreras y por ende esta tendencia afecta de forma negativa la salud de los habitantes de la ciudad, además que no es congruente con las recomendaciones mundiales para la actividad física. Conclusiones: La identificación y abolición de las barreras deben estar dentro las prioridades de las políticas de salud públicas y las intervenciones deben procurar dicha transformación, de esta forma se superará la tendencia de solamente informar sobre los beneficios de la actividad física que predominan en la gran mayoría de las recomendaciones e intervenciones

Mental health problems and smoking among adolescents from Southern Brazil

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between mental health problems and smoking in adolescents. METHODS: A total of 4,325 adolescents aged 15 from the 1993 birth cohort of the city of Pelotas, Southern Brazil, was studied. Smoking was defined as having smoked one or more cigarettes in the previous 30 days. Mental health was assessed according to the total score of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Score >; 20 points was considered positive. Data were analyzed using Poisson regression with adjustment for robust variance. RESULTS: Smoking prevalence was 6.0% and about 30% of the adolescents presented some mental health problem. In the crude analysis, the prevalence ratio for smoking was 3.3 (95%CI 2.5; 4.2). After the adjusted analysis (for sex, age, skin color, family income, mother's level of schooling, group of friends who smoke, employment in the previous year, school failure, physical activity during leisure time and experimental use of alcohol), it decreased to 1.7 (95%CI 1.2; 2.3) among those with mental health problem. CONCLUSIONS: Mental health problems in adolescence may be related to tobacco consumption.OBJETIVO: Analisar a associação entre problemas de saúde mental e uso de tabaco em adolescentes. MÉTODOS: Foram analisados 4.325 adolescentes de 15 anos da coorte de nascimentos de 1993 da cidade de Pelotas, RS. Tabagismo foi definido como fumar um ou mais cigarros nos últimos 30 dias. Saúde mental foi avaliada de acordo com o escore total do questionário Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire e escore maior ou igual a 20 pontos foi considerado como positivo. Os dados foram analisados por regressão de Poisson, com ajuste robusto para variância. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de tabagismo foi 6,0% e cerca de 30% dos adolescentes apresentaram algum tipo de problema de saúde mental. Na análise bruta, a razão de prevalências para tabagismo foi de 3,3 (IC95% 2,5; 4,2). Após ajuste (para sexo, idade, cor da pele, renda familiar, escolaridade da mãe, grupo de amigos fumantes, trabalho no último ano, repetência escolar, atividade física de lazer e uso experimental de bebida alcoólica), diminuiu para 1,7 (IC95% 1,2; 2,3) entre aqueles com problemas de saúde mental. CONCLUSÕES: Problemas de saúde mental na adolescência podem ter relação com o consumo de tabaco.OBJETIVO: Analizar la asociación entre problemas de salud mental y uso de cigarro en adolescentes. MÉTODOS: Se analizaron 4.325 adolescentes de 15 años de la cohorte de nacimientos de 1993 de la ciudad de Pelotas, Sur de Brasil. Tabaquismo fue definido como fumar uno o más cigarros en los últimos 30 días. Salud mental fue evaluada de acuerdo con el escore total del cuestionario Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire y escore mayor o igual a 20 puntos fue considerado como positivo. Los datos fueron analizados por regresión de Poisson, con ajuste robusto para varianza. RESULTADOS: La prevalencia de tabaquismo fue 6,0% y cerca de 30% de los adolescentes presentaron algún tipo de problema de salud mental. En el análisis bruto, la tasa de prevalencias de problema de tabaquismo de 3,3 (IC95% 2,5;4,2). Posterior al ajuste para sexo, edad, color de la piel, renta familiar, escolaridad de la madre, grupo de amigos fumadores, trabajo en el último año, repitencia escolar, actividad física de ocio y uso experimental de bebida alcohólica, disminuyó a 1,7 (IC95% 1,2;2,3) entre aquellos con problemas de salud mental. CONCLUSIONES: Problemas de salud mental en la adolescencia pueden tener relación con el consumo de tabaco

Profile of food consumption in the first childhood of individuals belonging to birth cohort of 2004 - Pelotas / RS

Objectives: To identify the eating profile of children in early childhood and to assess its variability according to demographic, socioeconomic and behavioral factors. Methods: 4,231 children participated in the study of perinatal birth cohort from Pelotas, southern Brazil, who were followed at 3, 12, 24, and 48 months. Information on children's food intake were collected through a list of foods consumed in last 24 hours before interviews (LF24) at 12, 24 and 48 months of age. Principal components analysis (PCA) was carried out in order to identify eating profiles for each age studied. Results: We identified five components in each follow-up. Four of them were equal in three follow-ups, which were called milks, base, beverage and snack. A component called adult appeared at 12 and 24 months and another, called treats, at 48 months. The greatest differences were found between the dietary profile and socioeconomic groups in all the trimmings. Milks was the profile that best explained the children s diet at 12 months. At 48 months, breast milk doesn t appear anymore and at this age milks (cow's milk and chocolate milk) shows an monotonic and increasing trend in relation to economic level, indicating that richest families tends to present great consumption of theses foods. The component sweets at 48 months of age was associated with greater consumption of sweets, chocolate and chips, which were negatively associated with socioeconomic status and maternal education. Child care outside home was a characteristic extremely important for differentiation of eating profiles, with aging. Conclusion: Our results showed that in times such early childhood, food profiles already associated with social (education, socioeconomic status and child care) and behavioral (duration of breastfeeding, bottle feeding and pacifier) characteristics.Objetivos: identificar o perfil alimentar de crianças na primeira infância e avaliar sua variabilidade segundo fatores demográficos, socioeconômicos e comportamentais. Métodos: No estudo perinatal da coorte de nascimentos de Pelotas (Sul do Brasil) participaram 4.231 crianças as quais foram acompanhadas com 3, 12, 24, e 48 meses. As informações sobre consumo alimentar das crianças foram coletadas através de uma lista de alimentos em 24 horas (LA24) aos 12, 24 e 48 meses de idade através desses dados foram identificados perfis alimentares usando análise de componentes principais (ACP) para cada uma das idades estudadas. Resultados: Foram identificados cinco componentes em cada um dos acompanhamentos. Quatro deles foram iguais em três acompanhamentos, os quais foram denominados leites, base, bebida e lanche. Um componente chamado adulto apareceu aos 12 e 24 meses e o guloseimas, aos 48 meses. As maiores diferenças foram encontradas entre o perfil alimentar e os grupos de nível econômico medido pelo IEN em todos os acompanhamentos. O leite materno apareceu, aos 12 meses como o perfil que melhor explicou a alimentação das crianças. Aos 48 meses, o leite materno não apareceu e pode-se mostrar uma tendência crescente, monotônica, do escore leites (leite de vaca e achocolatado) com o nível econômico, indicando maior consumo destes alimentos, quanto mais rica a família. O componente guloseimas (48 meses) esteve associado ao maior consumo de doces, chocolate e chips, o qual apresentou associação negativa com nível econômico e escolaridade da mãe. O fato da criança ter sido cuidada fora de casa foi uma característica de extrema importância na diferenciação dos perfis alimentares, conforme o avanço da idade. Conclusão: Nossos resultados mostraram que em período tão precoce quanto a infância os perfis alimentares já se mostram associados a características sociais (escolaridade, nível socioeconômico e cuidado da criança) e comportamentais (duração do aleitamento materno, uso de mamadeira e bico)

Análisis de algunas barreras del ambiente construido para la actividad física en la Ciudad de Cuernavaca, Morelos, México

Introducción: La actividad física (AF) es un factor de protección ante múltiples enfermedades. Las recomendaciones mundiales para la AF están bien establecidas y son difundidas en todos los escenarios posibles, pero el ambiente construido podría presentar múltiples barreras para seguir dichas recomendaciones. Objetivo: Analizar algunas barreras del ambiente construido para la actividad física por niveles de marginación en la ciudad de Cuernavaca, México. Materiales y métodos: Empleando el programa Atlas ti 5.0, se categorizaron los datos obtenidos de 170 guías de observación. Se realizó el análisis de un acervo fotográfico de 341 imágenes de 20 AGEBS de la ciudad de Cuernavaca, utilizando un análisis de imágenes fijas connotativo, denotativo y por 3 categorías (Calzadas, tránsito y espacios deportivos). Se utilizó el programa Stata 12.0 para obtener frecuencias y porcentajes. Resultados: Se identificaron deficiencias en el diseño y uso de espacios como las banquetas, falta de señalización e inseguridad de las vías públicas. Se encontró carencia de espacios para la práctica de la actividad física. Solo hay una presencia del 10% de espacios deportivos en los 20 AGEBS estudiados. Se encontró que el 82.86% de las calles está en deficiente estado. La deficiente iluminación vial, carencia de ciclovías y grafitis con porcentajes importantes también se identificaron como barreras para la AF. Discusión: En Cuernavaca las posibilidades de acceso a espacios seguros, presentan múltiples barreras y por ende esta tendencia afecta de forma negativa la salud de los habitantes de la ciudad, además que no es congruente con las recomendaciones mundiales para la actividad física. Conclusiones: La identificación y abolición de las barreras deben estar dentro las prioridades de las políticas de salud públicas y las intervenciones deben procurar dicha transformación, de esta forma se superará la tendencia de solamente informar sobre los beneficios de la actividad física que predominan en la gran mayoría de las recomendaciones e intervenciones

Physical fitness of school age children post-implementation of an educational intervention to prevent childhood obesity in Morelos, Mexico

Objective. To compare the physical fitness of children from eight elementary schools in Morelos, México after the imple­mentation of an intervention to prevent childhood obesity. Materials and methods. 214 children were randomly selected (111 - intervention community and 103 - control community). Physical fitness was evaluated by the 6 minutes walking test and the 50 meters speed test, as well as the number of steps/day. Results. The median of time in the speed test at the intervention site was 11.3 seconds and 13.8 seconds at the control site (p<0.001). The median distance traveled in the walking test was 550 m in the intervention site and 420 m in the control site (p<0.001). The children of the intervention community took a median of 15 161 steps/ day and those of the control community took 13 749 steps/ day (p<0.05). Conclusions. Children from the intervention community have significantly better physical fitness

Infant formula consumption is positively correlated with wealth, within and between countries: a multi-country study

BackgroundIn contrast with the ample literature on within- and between-country inequalities in breastfeeding practices, there are no multi-country analyses of socioeconomic disparities in breastmilk substitute (BMS) consumption in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate between- and within-country socioeconomic inequalities in breastfeeding and BMS consumption in LMICs.MethodsWe examined data from the Demographic Health Surveys and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys conducted in 90 LMICs since 2010 to calculate Pearson correlation coefficients between infant feeding indicators and per capita gross domestic product (GDP). Within-country inequalities in exclusive breastfeeding, intake of formula or other types of nonhuman milk (cow/goat) were studied for infants aged 0&ndash;5 mo, and for continued breastfeeding at ages 12&ndash;15 mo through graphical presentation of coverage wealth quintiles.ResultsBetween-country analyses showed that log GDP was inversely correlated with exclusive (r = &minus;0.37, P &lt; 0.001) and continued breastfeeding (r = &minus;0.74, P &lt; 0.0001), and was positively correlated with formula intake (r = 0.70, P &lt; 0.0001). Continued breastfeeding was inversely correlated with formula (r = &minus;0.79, P &lt; 0.0001), and was less strongly correlated with the intake of other types of nonhuman milk (r = &minus;0.40, P &lt; 0.001). Within-country analyses showed that 69 out of 89 did not have significant disparities in exclusive breastfeeding. Continued breastfeeding was significantly higher in children belonging to the poorest 20% of households compared with the wealthiest 20% in 40 countries (by &sim;30 percentage points on average), whereas formula feeding was more common in the wealthiest group in 59 countries.ConclusionsBMS intake is positively associated with GDP and negatively associated with continued breastfeeding in LMICs. In most countries, BMS intake is positively associated with family wealth, and will likely become more widespread as countries develop. Urgent action is needed to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding in all income groups and to reduce the intake of BMS, in light of the hazards associated with their use

Sociodemographic inequalities in vegetables, fruits, and animal source foods consumption in children aged 6-23 months from 91 LMIC.

INTRODUCTION: No multi-country analysis described patterns and inequalities for the brand-new feeding indicators proposed by WHO/UNICEF: zero consumption of vegetables and fruits (ZVF) and consumption of eggs and/or flesh (EFF). Our aim was to describe patterns in the prevalence and social inequalities of ZVF and EFF among children aged 6-23 months in low-and middle-income countries. METHODS: Data from nationally representative surveys (2010-2019) in 91 low-and middle-income countries were used to investigate within-country disparities in ZVF and EFF by place of residence, wealth quintiles, child sex and child age. The slope index of inequality was used to assess socioeconomic inequalities. Analyses were also pooled by World Bank income groups. RESULTS: The prevalence of ZVF was 44.8% and it was lowest in children from upper-middle income countries, from urban areas, and those 18-23 months. The slope index of inequality showed that socioeconomic inequalities in the prevalence of ZVF were higher among poor children in comparison to richest children (mean SII = -15.3; 95%CI: -18.5; -12.1). Overall, 42.1% of children consumed egg and/or flesh foods. Being a favorable indicator, findings for EFF were generally in the opposite direction than for ZVF. The prevalence was highest in children from upper-middle income countries, from urban areas, and those 18-23 months of age. The slope index of inequality showed pro-rich patterns in most countries (mean SII = 15.4; 95%CI: 12.2; 18.6). DISCUSSION: Our findings demonstrate that inequalities exist in terms of household wealth, place of residence, and age of the child in the prevalence of the new complementary feeding indicators. Moreover, children from low-and lower-middle countries had the lowest consumption of fruits, vegetables, eggs, and flesh foods. Such findings provide new insights towards effective approaches to tackle the malnutrition burden through optimal feeding practices

Child dietary intake of folate and vitamin B12 and their neurodevelopment at 24 and 30 months of age

Objective. To evaluate whether child dietary intake of folate and vitamin B12, is associated with mental and psychomotor development in Mexican children, respectively, at 24 and 30 months of age. Materials and methods. Information about neurodevelopment and dietary intake of folate and vitamin B12 at 24 and 30 months of age among 229 children belonging to a perinatal cohort was analyzed longitudinally. Dietary information was assessed using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, and neurodevelopment by Bayley Scale of Infant Development II. Results. At 30 months of age, dietary folate intake was marginally associated with increased Mental Development Index (MDI) (b=8.33; 95%CI -0.48, 17.14; p=0.06). Nonsignificant positive associations of vitamin B12 with MDI were found. Psychomotor Development Index (PDI) was not associated with these nutrients. Conclusion. Dietary folate intake in early childhood may benefit the mental development of children

Age patterns in overweight and wasting prevalence of under 5-year-old children from low- and middle-income countries.

OBJECTIVES: To describe how overweight and wasting prevalence varies with age among children under 5 years in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). METHODS: We used data from nationally representative Demographic and Health Surveys and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys. Overweight and wasting prevalence were defined as the proportions of children presenting mean weight for length/height (WHZ) more than 2 standard deviations above or below 2 standard deviations from the median value of the 2006 WHO standards, respectively. Descriptive analyses include national estimates of child overweight and wasting prevalence, mean, and standard deviations of WHZ stratified by age in years. National results were pooled using the population of children aged under 5 years in each country as weight. Fractional polynomials were used to compare mean WHZ with both overweight and wasting prevalence. RESULTS: Ninety national surveys from LMICs carried out between 2010 and 2019 were included. The overall prevalence of overweight declined with age from 6.3% for infants (aged 0-11 months) to 3.0% in 4 years olds (p = 0.03). In all age groups, lower prevalence was observed in low-income compared to upper-middle-income countries. Wasting was also more frequent among infants, with a slight decrease between the first and second year of life, and little variation thereafter. Lower-middle-income countries showed the highest wasting prevalence in all age groups. On the other hand, mean WHZ was stable over the first 5 years of life, but the median standard deviation for WHZ decreased from 1.39 in infants to 1.09 in 4-year-old children (p < 0.001). For any given value of WHZ, both overweight and wasting prevalence were higher in infants than in older children. CONCLUSION: The higher values of WHZ standard deviations in infants suggest that declining prevalence in overweight and wasting by age may be possibly due to measurement error or rapid crossing of growth channels by infants

Nutrition Profile for Countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region with Different Income Levels: An Analytical Review

The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) is suffering from a double burden of malnutrition in which undernutrition coexists with rising rates of overweight and obesity. Although the countries of the EMR vary greatly in terms of income level, living conditions and health challenges, the nutrition status is often discussed only by using either regional or country-specific estimates. This analytical review studies the nutrition situation of the EMR during the past 20 years by dividing the region into four groups based on their income level—the low-income group (Afghanistan, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen), the lower-middle-income group (Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Morocco, Pakistan, Palestine, and Tunisia), the upper-middle-income group (Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Libya) and the high-income group (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates)—and by comparing and describing the estimates of the most important nutrition indicators, including stunting, wasting, overweight, obesity, anaemia, and early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding. The findings reveal that the trends of stunting and wasting were decreasing in all EMR income groups, while the percentages of overweight and obesity predominantly increased in all age groups across the income groups, with the only exception in the low-income group where a decreasing trend among children under five years existed. The income level was directly associated with the prevalence rates of overweight and obesity among other age groups except children under five, while an inverse association was observed regarding stunting and anaemia. Upper-middle-income country group showed the highest prevalence rate of overweight among children under five. Most countries of the EMR revealed below-desired rates of early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding. Changes in dietary patterns, nutrition transition, global and local crises, and nutrition policies are among the major explanatory factors for the findings. The scarcity of updated data remains a challenge in the region. Countries need support in filling the data gaps and implementing recommended policies and programmes to address the double burden of malnutrition