ABSTRACT
Regular daytime napping behavior, also known as siesta culture, is influenced by circadian, cultural and environmental factors. This research analyzes characteristics of regular daytime napping in Brazilian Native Terenas. We evaluared 65 adults ( 32 M; 33 F ) from 18 to 75 years, with a mean age of 37.2, from the Indian Reservation village Córrego do Meio, in the central region of Mato Grosso do Sul. Daytime napping characteristics were evaluated by means of a standard questionnaire applied to each individual. It was observed that weekly daytime napping (at least once a week) was present in 72.3 per cent of the population. There was a tendency to occur in males. The effects of weekends was mild. Mean onset time of daytime sleep was 12.2 h, remarkably earlier than usually described in urban populations. This data stresses the need to consider ethnic influences in order to understand sleep habits.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adolescent , Adult , Middle Aged , Habits , Indians, South American , Periodicity , Sleep , Sunlight , BrazilABSTRACT
Developmental and cultural factors affect sleep habits in childhood. The objective of this research was to determine sleep habits of children in the isolated rural African-Brazilian community of Furnas do Dionísio, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The members of this community are closely related descendants of the ex-slave Dionísio, and reumained in relative geographical isolation for about a century. Sleep characteristics of 55 children (35M; 20F). 2 to 10 year olds, were evaluated in interviews with their mothers. The results showed that cosleeping, in the same bed with family members, was present in 80.0 per cent of the 2-3 year olds; decreasing to 25.0 per cent of the 8-10 years olds. Only 5.4 per cent of the children slept alone in their own bedroom. Mean number of persons per bedroom was 2.8. Only 7.0 per cent of the bedrooms had TV; 98.1 per cent slept in silence. The data obtained support the need to weigh cultural factors influence on sleep.