Abstract Introduction: stunted growth is the most common manifestation of malnutrition in México. Breastfeeding, adequate introduction of complementary feeding and dietary diversity can avoid this. Objective: to characterize the feeding practices in children 1-24 months of age in rural communities of Hidalgo and define their relationship with stunting. Methods: a 24-hour recall was used to obtain information. Z-scores for length-for-age (ZLA), complementary feeding (CF) and minimal dietary diversity (MDD) were determined. The sample was divided into breastfed and not breastfed children Results: one hundred eighty nine mother-child dyads were evaluated; 59.3% were breastfed and 40.7% were not. Stunting was found in 10.1% and was identified starting at the fourth month of life. This was accompanied by early CF close to the third month (57.0%) and by a reduction in exclusive breastfeeding during the second month of life to only 30%. The proportion of not breastfed children with stunting (27.5%) was almost twice that of breastfed children (12.0%) (p < 0.03). By age, mean ZLA was different with a trend towards stunting increasing with age (p < 0.05): 1-6 months -0.463 ± 1.445; 7-12 months -0.669 ± 1.225; and 13-24 months -0.985 ± 0.917. MDD was greater in not breastfed children (69.7%) (p < 0.04) and by age greater in children 13-24 months (69.7%) (p < 0.02). Conclusions: the feeding practices of most mothers did not meet WHO recommendations. It is necessary to carry out nutrition education interventions aimed at mothers in rural population.

Resumen Introducción: el retraso en el crecimiento es la forma más común de desnutrición en México. La lactancia materna, la introducción adecuada de alimentos complementarios y la diversidad en la dieta pueden evitarla. Objetivo: caracterizar las prácticas de alimentación de niños de 1-24 meses de comunidades rurales de Hidalgo y determinar su relación con baja talla. Métodos: se aplicó un recordatorio de 24 horas para obtener la información. Se determinó la puntuación Z longitud para la edad (ZLE), alimentación complementaria (AC) y diversidad alimentaria mínima (DAM). La muestra fue dividida en niños amamantados y no amantados. Resultados: se evaluaron 189 diadas madre-hijo, 59.3% fueron amamantados y 40,7% no lo fueron. La baja talla fue del 10,1%, identificada a partir del cuarto mes, acompañada de AC precoz cerca del tercer mes (57,0%) y la disminución de la lactancia materna exclusiva durante el segundo mes de edad a solo 30%. La proporción de niños no amamantados con baja talla (27,5%) fue más del doble que los niños amamantados (12,0%) (p < 0,03). Por edad, las medias de ZLE fueron diferentes con tendencia hacia la baja talla, aumentando con la edad (p < 0,05): 1-6 meses, -0,463 ± 1,445; 7-12 meses, -0,669 ± 1,225; y 13-24 meses, -0,985 ± 0,917. La DAM fue mayor en los niños no amamantados (67,1%) (p < 0,04) y, por edad, mayor en niños de 13-24 meses (69,7%) (p < 0,02). Conclusión: las prácticas de alimentación en la mayoría de las madres evaluadas no cumplen con las recomendaciones de la WHO. Se recomienda realizar intervenciones educativas nutricionales dirigidas a las madres.

ABSTRACT Diseases caused by viruses such as dengue, chikungunya and zika are mosquito-borne diseases transmitted by Aedes aegypti. We performed a cross-sectional study of healthcare personnel and the general population using questionnaires to identify the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices, and risk perception for dengue, chikungunya and zika. A total of 248 questionnaires were applied, 63.3% to healthcare personnel and 36.7% to the general population. Of the healthcare personnel, 53% were men, and in the general population 74% were women. Nahuatl and Spanish were spoken by both, healthcare personnel (28%) and the general population (23%). The level of knowledge, attitudes and practices and risk perception of the population and personnel showed significant differences (p<0.05). Among healthcare personnel, nurses and vector operating staff had the lowest level of knowledge. On the other hand, the questions with the lowest scores were 1) symptoms of Zika in both groups, 2) circulating dengue serotypes in healthcare personnel and 3) symptoms of chikungunya in the general population. The results of this work allow us to identify information gaps in which knowledge, attitudes and practices, and risk perception need to be increased.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence and analyze the factors associated with group B Streptococcus (GBS) colonization in pregnant women of Los Altos, Chiapas, Mexico. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between February and September 1999, a cross-sectional study was conducted among 910 women who sought delivery care at three public hospitals of San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas. Vaginal and perianal samples were taken for GBS detection by bacteriological culture. Identification of groups and serotypes was performed using latex agglutination. The analysis of factors associated with colonization was done using chi-squared tests and log-linear modeling. RESULTS: GBS colonization was found in 8.6% (95% CI 6.8 - 10.5) of study subjects. Women with the greatest likelihood of colonization were those with > or = 5 pregnancies, residents of counties with high levels of poverty, working outside the home, and living in homes in which the head of household worked in agriculture (26.8%, OR= 7.25, 95% CI 1.83 - 28.67). CONCLUSIONS: In the study area, it is necessary that actions aiming to prevent and control infections by GBS be directed principally at those groups of women with the highest probability of colonization, in order to diminish the perinatal transmission of GBS.

OBJETIVO: Estimar la prevalencia de colonización por Streptococcus del grupo B (SGB) en mujeres embarazadas de Los Altos, Chiapas, y analizar factores asociados a la misma. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Es un estudio transversal realizado de febrero a septiembre de 1999 en tres hospitales públicos de segundo nivel en San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas. A 910 mujeres que acudieron para atención de parto a dichos hospitales, se les tomaron muestras (vaginal y perianal) para detección de SGB por cultivo e identificación de grupo y serotipo mediante aglutinación en látex. El análisis de factores asociados a la colonización se realizó medianteji² y modelos log-lineales. RESULTADOS: La colonización por SGB fue de 8.6% (IC 95% 6.8 - 10.5). Las mujeres con mayor probabilidad de colonización fueron las de > o = 5 embarazos, residentes de municipios marginados, de ocupación diferente al hogar y con jefe/jefa de familia agrícola (26.8%, RM= 7.25, IC 95% 1.83 - 28.67). CONCLUSIONES: Es necesario que las acciones para la prevención y control de infección por SGB se dirijan principalmente a la población de mayor riesgo de colonización en el área de estudio, con el fin de disminuir la transmisión perinatal de SGB.