Papers by Maria Isabel Ortega
Abstract: Mexican migrant and seasonal farmworkers in the US-Mexico border region face health haz... more Abstract: Mexican migrant and seasonal farmworkers in the US-Mexico border region face health hazards and occupational risks and are becoming commonly known in the public health literature. According to several studies, farmworkers have high levels of chronic diseases such as diabetes and respiratory problems, are at risk for infectious diseases, and experience among the highest incidences of work-related injuries of any profession. The findings from two studies are considered and presented with the objective of contributing to an overall understanding of migrant farmworkers as a workforce moving across national boundaries and affected by the work environments and health stressors both shared and unique to each context. We propose a binational approach to comprehensively address the health problems and socioeconomic challenges faced by migrant and seasonal farmworkers. In this paper we present the results of two distinct but complementary studies
Frontiers in Public Health, 2016
Background: Living conditions and health of migrant farmworkers could benefit from a health promo... more Background: Living conditions and health of migrant farmworkers could benefit from a health promotion model based on corporate social responsibility (CSR). Objective: To understand how Mexican agribusiness owners and general managers view and practice CSR. Methods: We interviewed 8 agribusiness owners/managers and 233 farmworkers using open-ended interviews and gathered anthropometrical data of 133 children from farmworkers families. To guide our analysis and discussion, we followed the two-dimension model of CSR proposed by Quazi and O'Brien. results: According to interviewee responses, mean percentage of agreement with CSR concept was 77.4%, with a range of 54-85.7%. Main health-related issues among farmworkers were infectious diseases, crowding, and access to health-care services; there were acute cases of undernutrition among farmworkers' children and diets were of poor quality. Discussion: Agribusiness owners and managers understand and practice CSR according to a wide and modern view, which contradicts with farmworkers' living conditions and health. Quazi and O'Brien model should consider the social context, in which it is analyzed, and the social manifestations of community development as a tool for further analysis on the perceptions and actions of entrepreneurs.
International Journal of Child Health and Nutrition, 2015
Objective: To determine barriers related to metabolic control and diabetes care in Mexican childr... more Objective: To determine barriers related to metabolic control and diabetes care in Mexican children and their families. Design: This was a cross-sectional study designed in two stages. First stage was an assessment of risk factors for inadequate metabolic control (HbA1c higher than ADA guidelines by age group) of diabetic children using a logistic regression model. The data sources were 91 clinical files provided by public health institutions at northwest Mexico. Second stage included the design, implementation and evaluation of an educational program (EP) based on the Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) and the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), accounting for critical risk factors identified previously. Twenty five children (2 to 14 years old) with type 1 diabetes and their parents agreed to participate in the EP, which promoted healthy behavioral changes regarding diet, physical activity and medical treatment over a 4-month period. Results: Metabolic control was related to the joint effects of families low socioeconomic level and mother's low education attainment (OR= 8.5, CI95%: 1.73, 42.16), as well as following a conventional treatment (OR= 5.0, CI95%: 1.09, 22.82). After program implementation participants' mean glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) decreased (9.1%±1.8% to 8.3%±2%; P=0.06). Qualitative content analysis of post-intervention interviews showed that low income, clinical inertia, and lack of social support were barriers to metabolic control of diabetes. Conclusion and Implications: Socioeconomic, educational, and healthcare factors are related to metabolic control in Mexican children with diabetes, although educational programs based on SCT can help increase self-efficacy in patients through modeling and reinforcing activities.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2012
Mexican migrant and seasonal farmworkers in the US-Mexico border region face health hazards and o... more Mexican migrant and seasonal farmworkers in the US-Mexico border region face health hazards and occupational risks and are becoming commonly known in the public health literature. According to several studies, farmworkers have high levels of chronic diseases such as diabetes and respiratory problems, are at risk for infectious diseases, and experience among the highest incidences of work-related injuries of any profession. The findings from two studies are considered and presented with the objective of contributing to an overall understanding of migrant farmworkers as a workforce moving across national boundaries and affected by the work environments and health stressors both shared and unique to each context. We propose a binational approach to comprehensively address the health problems and socioeconomic challenges faced by migrant and seasonal farmworkers. In this paper we present the results of two distinct but complementary studies of farmworker health on the Arizona-Sonora border.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2011
The aim of this study was to examine the nutritional status of children of Mexican migrant worker... more The aim of this study was to examine the nutritional status of children of Mexican migrant worker families under five years of age within the context of global food markets. The sample included 404 children less than five years old from farms and agricultural communities in northwest Mexico. Prevalence of stunting and underweight of children appeared very similar to that of indigenous children from the national sample survey (difference 0.9 and 1.6 percentage points, respectively). Compared to the national sample of Mexican children, stunting and underweight seemed higher in migrant children (difference 17.7 and 4.5 percentage points, respectively), but wasting, an indicator of both chronic and acute undernutrition, appeared to indicate a process of nutritional recuperation. Migrant children living in poverty and suffering from chronic undernutrition, poor performance and scarce education opportunities, can be expected to eventually become agricultural workers with low productivity and poor general health. Consumer's demands
Journal of the …, 2007
Objective: To evaluate the energy, nutrient intakes and dietary patterns of Mexican lactating wom... more Objective: To evaluate the energy, nutrient intakes and dietary patterns of Mexican lactating women at one month postpartum, and the associations of maternal age and region on their intakes. Methods: A total of 60 women were studied: 41 from Northwest and 19 from Central Mexico, 33 adolescent and 27 adult women. Data were collected through two quantitative 24 h recalls. Two more recalls were used in a sub sample to calculate the coefficient of variation of intakes. Menus were based on the consumption frequency of foods. Results: The mean energy intake of the adolescent women (2354 Ϯ 1199 kcal) and those of Central Mexico (1690 Ϯ 981 kcal) was lower than the recommendations. Zinc, calcium, vitamin E, C and folate were inadequate (55 to 85% prevalence of inadequacy). Energy, dietary fiber, sodium, potassium, iron and folate intakes were higher (P Ͻ 0.05) in Northwest Mexico. Northwestern women consumed less variety of vegetables or fruits compared to Mexico City region women. Wheat tortillas and beans were from Northwestern but not from the Mexico City region diet. Conclusions: The energy and nutrient intakes of women were different by regional hospital and not by age. Education about the importance of the maternal diet during lactation should be directed toward increasing consumption of foods rich in micronutrients.
The aim of this study was to examine the nutritional status of children of Mexican migrant worker... more The aim of this study was to examine the nutritional status of children of Mexican migrant worker families under five years of age within the context of global food markets. The sample included 404 children less than five years old from farms and agricultural communities in northwest Mexico. Prevalence of stunting and underweight of children appeared very similar to that of indigenous children from the national sample survey (difference 0.9 and 1.6 percentage points, respectively). Compared to the national sample of Mexican children, stunting and underweight seemed higher in migrant children (difference 17.7 and 4.5 percentage points, respectively), but wasting, an indicator of both chronic and acute undernutrition, appeared to indicate a process of nutritional recuperation. Migrant children living in poverty and suffering from chronic undernutrition, poor performance and scarce education opportunities, can be expected to eventually become agricultural workers with low productivity and poor general health. Consumer's demands OPEN ACCESS
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Papers by Maria Isabel Ortega