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Alamo-Hernández U, Espinosa-García AC, Rangel-Flores H, Farías P, Hernández-Bonilla D, Cortez-Lugo M, Díaz-Barriga F, Flores N, Rodríguez-Dozal S, Riojas-Rodríguez H. Environmental Health Promotion of a Contaminated Site in Mexico. Ecohealth 2019; 16:317-329. [PMID: 30953243 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-019-01407-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Revised: 01/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/23/2019] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Entangled in complex ecological, sociocultural, and economic systems, current environmental health problems require integrated participatory approaches. Alpuyeca, a semi-urban, highly marginalized community in South-Central Mexico burdened by lead and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination, dengue fever, and intestinal diseases, illustrates this. Its residents are distinctive, however, for their concerted actions in the face of environmental problems and the presence of defenders of a prehispanic worldview based on the protection of nature. This article addresses the health impacts of an integrated environmental health promotion strategy implemented through a participatory action research intervention based on qualitative and quantitative methods. Different actors, sectors, dimensions, and knowledge types were harmonized in a collaborative space created specifically for our interdisciplinary research team, community residents and local authorities. Reflections, plans and actions were developed collectively in this space with the view of finding solutions anchored in the local culture. Results included sharp reductions in blood-lead concentrations among children, in entomological indices, and in PCB contamination, as well as capacity strengthening. Medium-level community participation was achieved. This work contributes evidence that participatory environmental health research can be effective in analyzing and reducing problems in communities with multiple environmental health concerns. It complements ecohealth and environmental health literacy approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urinda Alamo-Hernández
- Department of Environmental Health, Center of Investigation in Population Health (CISP), National Institute of Public Health (INSP), Av. Universidad 655. Col. Sta. Ma. Ahucatitlán, CP. 62100, Cuernavaca Mor, Mexico
| | - Ana Cecilia Espinosa-García
- Institute of Ecology, National Laboratory of Sciences of the Sustainability, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Tercer Circuito Exterior Ciudad Universitaria, Apartado Postal 70-275, 04510, Coyoacán, México, D.F, Mexico
| | - Hilda Rangel-Flores
- Center of Investigation on Infectious Diseases (CISEI), National Institute of Public Health (INSP), Av. Universidad 655. Col. Sta. Ma. Ahucatitlán, CP. 62100, Cuernavaca Mor, Mexico
| | - Paulina Farías
- Department of Environmental Health, Center of Investigation in Population Health (CISP), National Institute of Public Health (INSP), Av. Universidad 655. Col. Sta. Ma. Ahucatitlán, CP. 62100, Cuernavaca Mor, Mexico
| | - David Hernández-Bonilla
- Department of Environmental Health, Center of Investigation in Population Health (CISP), National Institute of Public Health (INSP), Av. Universidad 655. Col. Sta. Ma. Ahucatitlán, CP. 62100, Cuernavaca Mor, Mexico
| | - Marlene Cortez-Lugo
- Department of Environmental Health, Center of Investigation in Population Health (CISP), National Institute of Public Health (INSP), Av. Universidad 655. Col. Sta. Ma. Ahucatitlán, CP. 62100, Cuernavaca Mor, Mexico
| | - Fernando Díaz-Barriga
- Department of Environmental Toxicology - Medical School, Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí (UASLP), Av. Venustiano Carranza 2405. Col. De los filtros, CP. 78210, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
| | - Nelly Flores
- Public Health School, National Insitute of Public Health (INSP), Av. Universidad 655. Col. Sta. Ma. Ahuacatitlán, CP. 62100, Cuernavaca Mor, Mexico
| | - Sandra Rodríguez-Dozal
- Department of Environmental Health, Center of Investigation in Population Health (CISP), National Institute of Public Health (INSP), Av. Universidad 655. Col. Sta. Ma. Ahucatitlán, CP. 62100, Cuernavaca Mor, Mexico
| | - Horacio Riojas-Rodríguez
- Department of Environmental Health, Center of Investigation in Population Health (CISP), National Institute of Public Health (INSP), Av. Universidad 655. Col. Sta. Ma. Ahucatitlán, CP. 62100, Cuernavaca Mor, Mexico.
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