U.S.-Mexico cross-border cooperation in research on diabetes mellitus type 2

• Published in: Revista panamericana de salud pública Vol. 28; no. 3; pp. 159 - 163
• Main Authors: Canela-Soler, Jaume, Frontini, María, Cerqueira, Maria Teresa, Ruiz-Holguín, Rosalba, Díaz-Apodaca, Beatriz A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: United States 01.09.2010
• Subjects: Adult; Capital Financing; Communication; Cross-Sectional Studies - economics; Cross-Sectional Studies - ethics; Cross-Sectional Studies - methods; Culture; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - epidemiology; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - ethnology; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - prevention & control; Female; Government Agencies; Government Programs - economics; Government Programs - ethics; Government Programs - methods; Government Programs - organization & administration; Government Programs - statistics & numerical data; Health Surveys - economics; Health Surveys - ethics; Health Surveys - methods; Health Surveys - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Interinstitutional Relations; International Cooperation; Male; Mexico - epidemiology; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Program Evaluation; Research - economics; Research - organization & administration; Southwestern United States - epidemiology; Mexico; Southwestern United States
• ISSN: 1680-5348
• DOI: 10.1590/S1020-49892010000900005

To describe and analyze, utilizing a case study approach, the U.S.- Mexico Border Diabetes Prevention and Control Project, a health research cooperation initiative incorporating the participation of federal, state, and local institutions of both countries. A model of equal representation, participation, consensus, and shared leadership was used, with the participation of more than 130 institutions. A sample of 4 020 people over 18 years of age was obtained by a random, multistage, stratified, clustered design. A questionnaire about diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) and health was applied. The statistical analysis took into account the design effect. The prevalence of diagnosed DM2 was 14.9% (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 12.5-17.6) and the prevalence of diagnosed DM2 adjusted by age was 19.5% (95% CI: 16.8-22.6) on the Mexican side of the border and 16.1% (IC95%: 13.5-19.2) on the U.S. border side. There were differences between the DM2 prevalence and risk factors along the border. The U.S.-Mexico Border Diabetes Prevention and Control Project allowed the border zone between the two countries to be considered, for the first time ever, as a unit for epidemiological research. A shared understanding among all participating institutions and entities of sociopolitical structures and procedures is required for effective border health cooperation initiatives.