title: The impact of the maquiladoras on health and health policy along the U.S.-Mexico border.
abstract: Over the last three and one-half decades, the development of twin industrial plants, maquilas, along the U.S.-Mexico border has resulted in industrialization of the northern tier of Mexican states and rapid population growth on both sides of the border. Maquilas have been responsible for some environmental contamination and may contribute to changes in family cohesiveness. At the same time they have not supported the needed expansion of public infrastructure. These are major public health consequences that must be considered by both countries. Solutions will require better cooperative efforts than have occurred in the past.
authors.affiliation: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso, 4800 Alberta Avenue, El Paso, Texas 79905, USA.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Homedes
mesh_terms: D004465:Economic Competition; D004787:Environmental Pollution; D005190:Family; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry / Q000639:trends*; D007391:International Cooperation; D008800:Mexico / Q000208:ethnology; D011158:Population Growth; D011634:Public Health / Q000639:trends*; D012499:Sanitation; D015206:Southwestern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014171:Transients and Migrants