Jorge Ameth Villatoro Velázquez

Population study of depressive symptoms and risk factors in pregnant and parenting Mexican adolescents

OBJECTIVE To study the prevalence of, severity of, and risk factors for depressive symptoms in a probabilistic sample of Mexican adolescent mothers. METHODS A sample of adolescents aged 13-19 years, drawn from a national survey, was interviewed in relation to severity of depressive symptoms [Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) 16-23 and CES-D > 24] and pregnancy or parenting status. RESULTS Depressive symptoms (CES-D 16-23) ranged from 2.3% in the first postpartum semester to 32.5% in the second trimester of pregnancy; high depressive symptoms (CES-D > 24) ranged from 3.0% in the second postpartum semester to 24.7% in mothers of an infant more than 1 year old. Significant differences between groups were in mothers in the second gestation trimester, who had significantly more symptoms than those who had never been pregnant and those in the first postpartum semester. In those with high symptomatology, no significant differences were observed between groups. A multinomial logistic regression model used to estimate the likelihood of depression found increased risk of depressive symptoms (CES-D 16-23) in those without a partner in the first, second, or third trimester of pregnancy; in the second postpartum semester; and with a child over the age of 1 year. Increased risk of high symptomatology (CES-D > 24) was found in those not in school or with a child over the age of 1 year. CONCLUSIONS Depressive symptoms entail an enormous burden of disease for the mother and mental health risks to the infant; mothers should therefore be targeted in prevention and intervention actions.

El consumo de drogas en estudiantes de México: tendencias y magnitud del problema

Introduction. Drug use and its social and health consequences are subject of interest. Students’ surveys are epidemiological strategies to monitor this problem, and they are complemented with household and specific population surveys. All this can show in advance some phenomenon that later is visible in general population. Besides drug use trends and patterns, these studies show the influence of other factors that may increase the drugs use and their consequences. Objective. To know the drugs, alcohol and tobacco use prevalences in elementary (5th and 6th grade), middle and high school students (7th-12th grades) of Mexico and its States. Material and methods. This survey is a probabilistic elementary-high school students’ survey with national and statal representativity. The study sample had 52 171 elementary students and 114 364 middle and high school students. The information was obtained with a previously standardized and validated questionnaire. Results. The lifetime tobacco use was 30.4% and the average onset age was 13.4 years old. 53.2% has drunk alcohol and 14.5% has binge drinking. Any drug use lifetime prevalence is 17.2%. The preferred drugs are marihuana (10.6%), followed by inhalants (5.8%) and cocaine (3.3%). Discussion and conclusion. The increase in drugs use, specially of marihuana and alcohol, highlights the importance of creating new prevention strategies focused to decrease their use rate among students.

Tendencias del uso de drogas en la Ciudad de México: Encuesta de estudiantes, octubre 2012

Los estudios epidemiologicos en nuestro pais muestran un incremento en el consumo de drogas ilegales y de alcohol. La edad de inicio tambien ha disminuido, especialmente en el consumo de alcohol. Por su parte, el consumo de inhalables se ha incrementado en forma importante, especialmente entre las mujeres jovenes. Son diversos los factores asociados al consumo de drogas, pero de manera importante destacan el desarrollo de estrategias de resistencia, junto con sus habilidades sociales subyacentes, asi como los estilos parentales de crianza. Metodo La presente es una encuesta probabilistica en poblacion escolar de secundarias y bachilleratos de la Ciudad de Mexico que se levanto en noviembre del 2012, con representacion a nivel de cada Delegacion. La muestra fue de 26 503 alumnos. La informacion se obtuvo mediante un cuestionario estandarizado y validado en encuestas anteriores. Resultados El consumo de tabaco disminuyo significativamente (de 44.3% a 41.0%), el 32.9% de los adolescentes comenzo a utilizar tabaco antes de los 13 anos. El 68.2% consumio alcohol alguna vez; en tanto que la edad de inicio promedio de consumo de esta sustancia se mantuvo en los 12.6 anos. La prevalencia de consumo de drogas alguna vez aumento de 21.5% a 24.4%. La mariguana es la droga de preferencia en la poblacion estudiantil (15.9%). Tambien se encontraron incrementos en la presencia de abuso sexual, mientras que el intento suicida disminuyo. Discusion Los resultados muestran el continuo crecimiento que tiene esta problematica, aunque los inhalables se mantuvieron constantes y el tabaco disminuyo de manera importante. Dado estos resultados, es una tarea preponderante dedicar mas esfuerzos a la prevencion con estudios e intervenciones evaluadas para preescolar y primaria, asi como para los padres de familia y los maestros

National trends in alcohol consumption in Mexico: results of the National Survey on Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco Consumption 2016-2017

Introduction. Worldwide, binge drinking of alcohol has increased, especially among young people. In Mexico, various epidemiological sources allow us to account for the growth this pattern of consumption has had. Given this context, the Encuesta Nacional de Consumo de Drogas 2016-2017 (ENCODAT) shows the evolution in alcohol consumption. Objective. To determine the prevalence and national and regional trends, as well as state variations of alcohol consumption in the population aged 12 to 65. Method. The ENCODAT 2016-2017 is a random, probabilistic, and multi-stage study with national and state representation. The sample consisted of 56 877 people who answered a standardized questionnaire through ACASI (self-administered computer interviews) that collects information about the use of tobacco, alcohol, and medical and illegal drugs. Results. Binge drinking past month increased from 12.3% to 19.8% from 2011 to 2016. A similar situation occurs in daily use (from .8% to 2.9%) and weekly binge drinking (from 5.4% to 8.5%). The age of onset has remained stable since 2011 (16.6 years for men, 19.2 years for women in 2016). Meanwhile, 2.2% reported alcohol dependence. The states with the highest prevalence of binge drinking are Nuevo Leon (30.3%), Jalisco (27.7%) and, Coahuila (27.5%). Discussion and conclusion. The results show that alcohol use increased with respect to 2011, especially in women; data on treatment seeking indicate that women who use alcohol are also the least likely to seek help. Given this context, it is necessary to have specialized spaces that provide treatment in keeping with use-based needs and gender condition.

Magnitude and extent of gambling disorder in the Mexican population

Introduction. Gambling disorder is characterized by an uncontrollable need to gamble, lack of control over gambling, prioritizing gambling over other activities, and continuing to gamble despite the negative consequences this entails. Worldwide, between .1% and 5% of people show signs of problem gambling and between .1% and 2.2% present a positive result in gambling disorder criteria. Objective. To determine the extent of the problem of gambling disorder in Mexico and to identify and analyze the demographic groups in which it occurs. Method. ENCODAT 2016-2017 is a probabilistic, multi-stage survey with national and state representativeness. The sample comprises 56 877 people who answered a standardized questionnaire that collects information on addictive substance use and other areas such as gambling disorder. Results. A total of 24.5% of the population aged 12 to 65 have played a betting game at lifetime. Men have higher statistically significant prevalences than women in nearly all types of gambling and in six of the nine symptoms of gambling disorder. In Mexico, .3% of the target population meet the criteria for gambling disorder, with adolescents showing the highest percentage (.4%). Discussion and conclusion. It is necessary to reinforce public policies for this issue that include the development of preventive actions targeting the adolescent and youth population in Mexico, and to ensure the adequate monitoring of authorized centers.

Contextual factors associated with marijuana use in school population

Introduction. Marijuana use among the student population has increased in Mexico and Latin America. There are social, interpersonal and individual factors associated with the onset and continuation of marijuana use. These include the availability of drugs in the community, opportunity for use, low perceived risk of harm from marijuana use and social tolerance by family and close friends. Moreover, these factors increase the probability of experimenting with other drugs, polysubstance use and dependence. Objective. To identify the relationship between the level of urbanization, drug availability, exposure to opportunity for use, risk perception and social tolerance of the level of marijuana use among Mexican middle and high school students. Method. The results are drawn from various surveys conducted in Mexico City and the National Survey of Drug Use among Students 2014. A total of 114 364 middle and high school students participated (49.8% boys and 50.2% girls). Results. Of the respondent 10.6% had used marijuana at least once (12.9% boys and 8.4% girls). The variables that predicted higher marijuana use were drug use approval by family and best friend,, the level of urbanization and low risk perception. Discussion and conclusion. Action must be taken on the factors mentioned to decrease the availability and use of drugs in the environment, and raise awareness of their consequences. These elements must be introduced systematically and creatively into preventive programs in this area.