Biochemical indicators of anaemia status

Results from MNS-1 (1988) and MNS-2 (1999) show increases in the prevalence of anaemia over the 11-year period in pregnant women (from 18.2 to 27.8 percent) and non-pregnant women (from 15.4 to 20.8 percent) (Table 17) (Martinez et al., 1995; Shamah-Levy et al., 2003). Child anaemia was not evaluated until MNS-2, which recorded a prevalence of 27.2 percent at the national level (Table 17). A number of factors could explain the increase in anaemia; for example, haemoglobin was measured in situ with a portable photometer in 1999, but not in 1988, when venous blood was used. Changes in feeding patterns among the population also partially explain the increase. The total protein intake decreased over this period, from 58.5 to 47.2 g (Table 2), while data on expenditure show almost no change in meat purchases at the national level between 1989 and 2002 (Table 8). Another important factor could be that comprehensive national interventions oriented to reduce micronutrient deficiencies in poor locations, such as the Progresa/Oportunidades programmes, did not start until 1999, when their design and targeting were improved by the results MNS-2.

The highest prevalence of anaemia in women was observed in rural locations, particularly in those with indigenous populations. The main socio-economic factors associated with high prevalence of anaemia were number of children, lower socio-economic status, indigenous background and residence in rural locations. As reported in other studies, these factors are closely associated with poverty (ACC/SNC, no date; Becerra et al., 1998; Diallo et al., 1995; Frith-Terhune, Cogswell and Kettel Khan, 2000; Zavaleta, Caulfield and Garcia, 2000).

TABLE 17
Prevalence of anaemia in women aged 12 to 49 years and children aged 0 to five years, by region and residence, 1988 and 1999

Anaemia = < 12 g/dl haemoglobin in non-pregnant and < 11 g/dl in pregnant women.
Sources: MNS–1, 1988; MNS–2, 1999.

Mortality trends

The case study’s analysis of the mortality register found decreasing trends in child mortality and in mortality among the 15 to 59 years age group. All-cause mortality per thousand inhabitants decreased from 16 in 1950 to 4.5 in 2000. Mortality due to communicable diseases, undernutrition and reproduction represented 49.8 percent of all-cause mortality in 1950, decreasing to 14 percent in 2000. In contrast, mortality due to non-communicable chronic diseases has been increasing in the last five decades, contributing 43.7 percent of all-cause mortality in 1950 and 73 percent in 2000 (Figure 3). Thus, a decreasing trend in mortality due to infectious gastrointestinal diseases, acute respiratory infections and undernutrition was observed, while non-communicable chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension and IHD show a steady increase over time, which is consistent with the epidemiologic transition theory (Ministry of Health, 2001).

FIGURE 3
Mortality trends: percentage contributions to all-cause mortality of non-communicable chronic diseases and acute infectious diseases, 1950 to 2000

Physical activity in Mexico

There is only limited information on the physical activity of the Mexican population. Using data from MNS-2 (1999), Hernández et al. (2003) concluded that females aged from 12 to 49 years have very limited physical activity. Only 16 percent reported the regular practice of sports. Several socio-demographic factors are associated with this, and women were more likely to practise sports if they were less than 20 years of age, had no children and were of high socio-economic status.