Exploring barriers and facilitators to feeding children with minimal or no "Junk Food": Insights from Mexican women.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the factors that promote or hinder the feeding of children with minimal or no ultra-processed products to inform the design of an mHealth strategy in Mexico and prevent child malnutrition among the economically vulnerable.

Methods: An exploratory qualitative study was conducted, involving 24 in-depth face-to-face interviews with caregivers of children aged 24-59 months from both urban and rural communities. To analyze the data, we used thematic analysis and incorporated a few elements of grounded theory.

Effectiveness and Implementation of a Text Messaging mHealth Intervention to Prevent Childhood Obesity in Mexico in the COVID-19 Context: Mixed Methods Study.

Background: Promoting physical activity (PA) and healthy feeding (HF) is crucial to address the alarming increase in obesity rates in developing countries. Leveraging mobile phones for behavior change communication to encourage infant PA and promote HF is particularly significant within the Mexican context.

Objective: This study aims to explore the effectiveness and feasibility of mHealth interventions aimed at promoting PA and HF among primary caregivers (PCs) of Mexican children under the age of 5 years.

Healthy lifestyle interventions within the curriculum in school-age children: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Childhood obesity is a major public health challenge. Previous research has identified the impact of school-based interventions for preventing and treating obesity; we hypothesized that when curricular changes are integrated, results could be exponentiated. This study aimed to systematically review and conduct a meta-analysis of the published literature analyzing information about school-based interventions inserted in the curriculum.

Challenges around Child-Feeding Practices with 'Comida Chatarra': A Qualitative Study to Understand the Role of Sociocultural Factors in Caregiver Feeding Decisions.

A massive incorporation of ultra-processed products into young children's diets worldwide and in Mexico has been documented. The aim of this study is to understand the role of sociocultural factors in principal caregivers' decisions to give a type of ultra-processed food to children under age five, called 'comida chatarra' ('junk food' in English), usually includes sugar-sweetened beverages, sweet and salty snacks, and sweet breakfast cereals. We conducted a descriptive, observational qualitative study.

Overview of Systematic Reviews of Health Interventions for the Prevention and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Children.

(1) Background: The importance of studying the health interventions used to prevent and treat overweight and obesity in school-aged children is imperative. This overview aimed to summarize systematic reviews that assess the effects of school-based, family, and mixed health interventions for preventing and treating overweight and obesity in school-aged children. (2) Methods: The Cochrane Collaboration methodology and PRISMA statement were followed.

Digital marketing of commercial breastmilk substitutes and baby foods: strategies, and recommendations for its regulation in Mexico.

Background: Parents are exposed to breastmilk substitutes and baby foods marketing on the internet and social media, which hinders adequate breastfeeding and complementary feeding. This study identifies digital marketing strategies for breastmilk substitutes, specifically commercial milk formula and baby foods used by the industry to influence infant and young children's feeding practices in Mexico and proposes regulatory recommendations that can be useful for similar countries.

Methods: Qualitative study based on the CLICK monitoring framework developed by the World Health Organization, adapted for digital marketing of commercial milk formula and baby foods.

Digital marketing of formula and baby food negatively influences breast feeding and complementary feeding: a cross-sectional study and video recording of parental exposure in Mexico.

Background: There is little evidence of the association between digital marketing of formula and baby food and infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices.

Objective: Assess parents' exposure to digital marketing of formula and baby food for children <2 years and its association with the purchase and IYCF practices in Mexico.

Methods: Parents ≥18 years recruited from a market research panel completed an online survey (n=1074) and capture-on-screen (n=95) between December 2020 and January 2021.

Alternative caregivers` role in food choices for young children in semi-urban and urban Mexico.

Alternative caregivers (i.e., someone besides the primary caregiver who also takes care of children) make food choices for children.

Physical Activity in Mexican High Schools.

Background: We evaluated the association between availability of specific physical activity (PA) spaces and PA practices among adolescents within Mexican high schools (HS).

Methods: Data were collected through an online survey applied to principals or person in charge of 4023 Mexican HS during the 2015-2016 school year. Adequate PA was defined as moderate to vigorous intensity PA for ≥60 minutes/day, ≥5 days/week, whereas PA-specific spaces were considered those that were available and specifically designed/used for PA.

Factors Associated With Dietary Quality During Initial and Later Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Mexico.

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the global economy and modified lifestyles. The aim of our study was to identify factors associated with dietary quality, and their frequency, in Mexican adults at the initial and later stages of the pandemic. Two online surveys were conducted between June and July 2020 ( = 3,131) and between November and December 2020 ( = 1,703 including non-participants from 1st round).

Functions of social networks in maternal food choice for children in Mexico.

Food choice for children has important implications in establishing early-life dietary habits and preferences. Food choice for children has been studied as parent-child dyad dynamics, but little is known about the extended system of relationships in maternal food choice for children. The objective of this study was to understand the functions of mothers' social networks in the food choices that mothers make for their children ages 1 to 5 years old in rural Mexico.

Breastfeeding practices in Mexico: Results from the National Demographic Dynamic Survey 2006-2018.

Although actions have been taken to improve breastfeeding in Mexico, trends over the last decade and their associated factors have not been analysed. We estimated trends in breastfeeding practices at the national, rural/urban, and regional level indigenous ethnicity and socio-economic level, and their associated factors using the National Demographic Dynamics Survey (2006, 2009, 2014 and 2018). We assessed breastfeeding indicators of women with children <24 months according to The World Health Organization recommendations.

Lessons learned and insights from the implementation of a food and physical activity policy to prevent obesity in Mexican schools: An analysis of nationally representative survey results.

Obesity is a serious problem among children in Mexico. In 2010, the government implemented a national food and physical activity policy in elementary schools, to prevent obesity. The goal of this study is to assess the implementation of this policy, using the logic model from a descriptive survey with national representativeness at the elementary school level and based on a stratified cluster design.

Experiences and lessons learned for delivery of micronutrient powders interventions.

An effective delivery strategy coupled with relevant social and behaviour change communication (SBCC) have been identified as central to the implementation of micronutrient powders (MNP) interventions, but there has been limited documentation of what works. Under the auspices of "The Micronutrient Powders Consultation: Lessons Learned for Operational Guidance," three working groups were formed to summarize experiences and lessons across countries regarding MNP interventions for young children. This paper focuses on programmatic experiences related to MNP delivery (models, platforms, and channels), SBCC, and training.

Experiences and lessons learned for programme improvement of micronutrient powders interventions.

Continual course correction during implementation of nutrition programmes is critical to address factors that might limit coverage and potential for impact. Programme improvement requires rigorous scientific inquiry to identify and address implementation pathways and the factors that affect them. Under the auspices of "The Micronutrient Powders Consultation: Lessons Learned for Operational Guidance," 3 working groups were formed to summarize experiences and lessons across countries regarding micronutrient powder (MNP) interventions for young children.

The fight against overweight and obesity in school children: Public policy in Mexico.

Excess weight in schoolchildren is a serious health problem in Mexico. In 2010, the government established General Guidelines for Dispensing or Distribution of Foods and Beverages at School Food Establishments (SFEs) in Elementary Schools with the objective of stopping the epidemic of overweight and obesity. This study aimed to evaluate compliance with the Guidelines during two academic years.

Breastfeeding practices, beliefs, and social norms in low-resource communities in Mexico: Insights for how to improve future promotion strategies.

Introduction: Breastfeeding is recommended exclusively for the first 6 months after birth, with continued breastfeeding for at least 2 years. Yet prevalence of these recommendations is low globally, although it is an effective and cost-effective way to prevent serious infections and chronic illness. Previous studies have reported that social support greatly influences breastfeeding, but there is little evidence on perceived social norms in Mexico and how they affect actual behavior.

Contribution of formative research to design an environmental program for obesity prevention in schools in Mexico City.

Objective: This paper describes the methods and key findings of formative research conducted to design a school-based program for obesity prevention.

Materials And Methods: Formative research was based on the ecological model and the principles of social marketing. A mixed method approach was used.

[Barriers and opportunities for the regulation of food and beverage advertising to children in Mexico].

Objective: To identify barriers and opportunities for the regulation of food and beverage advertising to children.

Materials And Methods: A qualitative study. Fourteen key informants from the congress, private sector, officials from the ministry of health and academics involved in the issue of regulation of advertising were interviewed.

Scripted messages delivered by nurses and radio changed beliefs, attitudes, intentions, and behaviors regarding infant and young child feeding in Mexico.

Scalable interventions are needed to improve infant and young child feeding (IYCF). We evaluated whether an IYCF nutrition communication strategy using radio and nurses changed beliefs, attitudes, social norms, intentions, and behaviors related to breastfeeding (BF), dietary diversity, and food consistency. Women with children 6-24 mo were randomly selected from 6 semi-urban, low-income communities in the Mexican state of Morelos (intervention, n = 266) and from 3 comparable communities in Puebla (control, n = 201).

A matched pair cluster randomized implementation trail to measure the effectiveness of an intervention package aiming to decrease perinatal mortality and increase institution-based obstetric care among indigenous women in Guatemala: study protocol.

Background: Maternal and perinatal mortality continue to be a high priority problem on the health agendas of less developed countries. Despite the progress made in the last decade to quantify the magnitude of maternal mortality, few interventions have been implemented with the intent to measure impact directly on maternal or perinatal deaths. The success of interventions implemented in less developed countries to reduce mortality has been questioned, in terms of the tendency to maintain a clinical perspective with a focus on purely medical care separate from community-based approaches that take cultural and social aspects of maternal and perinatal deaths into account.

[Use of social marketing to increase water consumption among school-age children in Mexico City].

Objective: To increase water consumption in school children in Mexico City through a social marketing intervention.

Materials And Methods: Cluster quasi-experimental design. Intervention of three months in schools, including water provision and designed based on social marketing.

Promoting healthful diet and physical activity in the Mexican school system for the prevention of obesity in children.

Objective: This paper describes the rationale, design, and methods of a two-year randomized controlled trial conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of an environmental intervention in 27 elementary schools in Mexico City.

Materials And Methods: There were two units of analysis, school level addressing changes in elementary public part-time schools, and individual-level addressing behavioral changes in students 9 to 11 years of age. Two intensities of an intervention program were implemented (basic and plus), each containing two intervention components: physical activity and nutrition, supported by a communication/education component.

[Culturally constructed meanings for consumption of sweetened beverages among schoolchildren in Mexico City].

Objective: Demonstrate the importance of the cultural factors that currently motivate Mexican children to consume sweetened beverages and examine their implications for the design of programs for the promotion of healthy lifestyles.

Methods: A qualitative phenomenological study involving nine peer interviews and four discussion groups was conducted among children aged 9 and 10 years in four public schools in southern Mexico City. The interviews employed nine photographs of beverages that are available in schools and homes.

[The health system of Venezuela].

This paper describes the Venezuelan health system, including its structure and coverage, financial sources, human and material resources and its stewardship functions. This system comprises a public and a private sector. The public sector includes the Ministry of Popular Power for Health (MS) and several social security institutions, salient among them the Venezuelan Institute for Social Security (IVSS).