RESUMO
This study describes a popular educational process conducted in two communities in Jalisco, Mexico. The purpose was to add an alfalfa concentrate to the population's diet as an alternative, locally available food source. Previous studies had shown that alfalfa contains high protein, vitamin, and essential amino acid levels and can be useful to supplement and improve child nutrition. This resource had not been used previously due to lack of knowledge concerning its properties and harvesting and processing procedures and because it had traditionally been used as livestock feed. The current study included four steps: 1) community knowledge, 2) a community survey using interviews, home visits, and child nutrition evaluation, 3) formation of work groups in a community meeting, and 4) an educational program, working with a self-diagnostic tool taking child nutritional status into account. Our work focused on two areas simultaneously: family nutrition and the alfalfa concentrate as a way to improve it. Although this process was lengthy, it resulted in the acceptance and inclusion of alfalfa concentrate. In addition, the community groups formed in the process remain as an ongoing organizational resource.
Assuntos
Dieta , Educação em Saúde , Medicago sativa , Desenvolvimento de Programas , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , México , Fenômenos Fisiológicos da NutriçãoRESUMO
This paper presents the results of the identification and association of certain family characteristics of type II diabetes patients in relation with its metabolic control in 121 families of tw o health centers of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico in 1989. The attitude an d information about of the sickness, and the complications and therapeutics were evaluated through psychosocial evaluations. The majority of the family members showed a negative attitude and a profound understanding of the disease process. Only a 16.5 per cent of the patients were under control, and found a strong association between lack of control and nuclear family involved in the last cycles of this type of unit: independence and retirement.