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


METHODS
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.


RESULTS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Departamento de Salud Pública, Universidad de Barcelona, España. jcanela@ub.edu
Jaume
J
Canela-Soler
María
M
Frontini
Maria Teresa
MT
Cerqueira
Rosalba
R
Ruiz-Holguín
Beatriz A
BA
Díaz-Apodaca
D000328:Adult; D002202:Capital Financing; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics / Q000379:methods; D003469:Culture; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006077:Government Agencies; D006078:Government Programs / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D007391:International Cooperation; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012106:Research / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015206:Southwestern United States / Q000453:epidemiology