Trinidad and Tobago visited the U.S.-Mexico Border

El Paso, TX, August 18, 2011 (PAHO/WHO) – Although similar numbers of men and women are affected by diabetes in Mexico and the English-speaking Caribbean, gender affects the progression and treatment of the disease.  Sex differences in diabetes mortality and morbidity rates are associated with men’s and women’s differing genetics such as diet, access to health services, and management of the disease.  To be effective in lowering risk for diabetes, health programs must be designed and implemented to address sex differences in disease risk and preventative behavior. A Trinidadian delegation of three people composed of a patient advocate and national and Regional health authorities visited Ciudad Juárez, México and the PAHO US- Mexico Border Office in El Paso, Texas for three working days 2 to 4, August 2011.

ABOUT THE WORKSHOP

PURPOSE: Describe diabetic care, gender and social characteristics in México and Trinidad, to learn the issue related to inequalities in the quality of diabetes care based on gender differences and socio cultural factors, list which demographic groups are at great risk for diabetes mellitus-related disabilities, and Learn from the Mexico diabetes program as a best practice demonstrating incorporation of a gender equality perspective in health.

METHODOLOGY AND EXPECTED RESULTS: The Trinidadians delegation will review how Mexican health service providers are trained in gender-specific aspects of diabetes prevention and will provide suggestions on how to evaluate intercultural aspects of diabetes prevention.

PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS:
• Especial Medical Unit for Chronic Diseases (UNEME) de Ciudad Juárez
• Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization U.S.-Mexico Border Office (PAHO/WHO)
     
ABOUT TCC Project
The TCC or Technical Cooperation among Countries project is a way to promote Sustainable Human Development among developing countries. Trough this project, developing countries pool their experiences and technical capacities to face their problems, fostering collective self-reliance while broadening the scope and quality of international cooperation. In this occasion, Trinidad and Tobago visited the U.S.-México Border to review how Mexican health service providers are trained in gender-specific aspects of diabetes prevention. Among different studies, prevalence rates of diabetes are not consistently higher for women, with the ratio of the prevalence in women versus men varying among populations studied, probably due to different distributions of risk factors such as body mass index, physical activity, and genetic differences.
 
Some gender differences are seen in acute and chronic complications of the disease. Almost twice as many women were discharged with the diagnosis of nonketotic hyperosmolar coma than men; women tend to be discharged from hospitals with hypoglycemia than men.
 
Compared with their male counterparts, diabetic women scored lower on measures of health status and functioning—factors that are likely to affect self-care activities. Sex-based differences should be considered when developing screening and treatment programs for people with DM.
 
Working with Dr. Aurora del Rio of the Mexican MOH/Gender Center, Trinidadian delegation prepared a short report of their observations about cultural and social diversity component of diabetes prevention in Juarez and of how medical providers can account for cultural diversity in diabetes prevention.

Link to the photo gallery