This paper looks at the feasibility of investigating how health risk behaviors established during youth contribute to the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in a young workforce. The population of interest consists of Mexican women living and working on the Mexican side of the United States-Mexico border. Proposed goals would (1) establish an epidemiological surveillance system to monitor the prevalence of youthful risk behaviors that most affect health, and (2) implement the PRECEDE-PROCEED Model, a worksite health promotion program for health planning and evaluation. Surveillance data collected from identifiable health risk behaviors would be used to determine and recommend public health needs as well as worksite health promotion action; to evaluate existing programs; and to implement new strategies. Concern about health determinants and possible solutions on the Mexican side of the border interrelate with the United States in that what affects one side of the border affects the other. Studying a youth population is significant because of its future impact on society; studying females is important because of the woman's role as family manager, educator, carrier of tradition, and bearer of children. (Contains 11 references.) (Author/LL)