Prevalence of anemia among Indigenous children in Latin America: a systematic review

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence pattern of anemia among Indigenous children in Latin America. METHODS: PRISMA guidelines were followed. Records were identified from the databases PubMed, Google Scholar, and Lilacs by two independent researchers between May and June 2021. Studies were included if the following criteria were met: a) studied Indigenous people b) was about children (from 0 to 12 years old); c) reported a prevalence estimate of anemia; d) had been conducted in any of the countries of Latin America; e) was published either in English, Portuguese, or Spanish; f) is a peer-reviewed article; and g) was published at any date. RESULTS: Out of 2,401 unique records retrieved, 42 articles met the inclusion criteria. A total of 39 different Indigenous communities were analyzed in the articles, and in 21 of them (54.0%) child anemia was a severe public health problem (prevalence ≥ 40%). Those communities were the Aymara (Bolivia); Aruak, Guaraní, Kamaiurá, Karapotó, Karibe, Kaxinanuá, Ma-cro-Jê, Suruí, Terena, Xavante (Brazil); Cabécar (Costa Rica), Achuar, Aguaruna, Awajún, Urarina, Yomybato (Peru); Piaroa and Yucpa (Venezuela); and Quechua (Peru and Bolivia). Children below two years had the highest prevalence of anemia (between 16.2% and 86.1%). Among Indigenous people, risk factors for anemia include nutrition, poor living conditions, access to health services, racism, and discrimination. Bolivia and Guatemala are scarcely studied, despite having the highest proportion of Indigenous communities in Latin America. CONCLUSIONS: Anemia constitutes a poorly documented public health problem among Indigenous children in 21 Indigenous communities in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, and Peru. In all Indigenous communities included in this study child anemia was an issue, especially in younger children.

Health Academy Program and physical activity levels in Brazilian state capitals / Programa Academia da Saúde e níveis de atividade física nas capitais brasileiras

The objective of this study was to analyze the impact of a community-based physical activity program, the Health Academy Program (Academia da Saúde or PAS), on leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) among the population living at the Brazilian state capitals. We pooled individual data from the National Surveillance for Protective and Risk Factors for Chronic Diseases (VIGITEL) between 2006 and 2016 and estimated odds ratios according to levels of exposure by using a multilevel logistic regression. Total sample was composed of 572,437 individuals. In the initial model, chances of reaching sufficient LTPA was 1.20 (95%CI: 1.16-1.25) times higher among individuals exposed since 2011. In the analyses adjusted for year, sex, age and education, this probability was only 1.04 (95%CI: 1.00-1.08) times higher among exposed individuals. Odds of reaching recommended LTPA was 1.09 (95%CI: 1.04-1.15) times higher among women exposed since 2011 as compared to women in the control group with no exposure. No other statistically significant results were found. We conclude that the PAS cannot substantially affect whole populations. Yet it is possible to visualize a positive influence of the program on specific subgroups, pointing to its potential to reduce gender inequity in LTPA practice. We recommend more tailored interventions before indistinctively scaling up the program, as well as we suggest better monitoring for large scale evaluations

O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar o efeito de um programa de atividade física de base comunitária, o Programa Academia da Saúde (PAS), no nível de atividade física durante o lazer (AFDL) da população residente nas capitais brasileiras. Reunimos dados individuais do sistema de Vigilância de Fatores de Risco e Proteção para Doenças Crônicas por Inquérito Telefônico ( VIGITEL) entre 2006 e 2016 e estimamos os odds ratios de acordo com níveis de exposição ao programa usando uma regressão logística multinível. A amostra total foi composta por 572.437 indivíduos. No modelo inicial, as chances de se atingir níveis suficientes de AFDL foram 1,20 (95%IC: 1,16-1,25) vezes maior entre os indivíduos expostos desde 2011. Nas análises ajustadas por ano, sexo, idade e escolaridade, essa probabilidade foi apenas 1,04 (95%IC: 1,00-1,08) vezes maior entre indivíduos expostos. As chances de se atingir níveis de AFDL suficiente foram 1,09 (95%IC: 1,04-1,15) vezes maior entre as mulheres expostas desde 2011 em comparação ao grupo controle de mulheres não expostas. Nenhum outro resultado estatisticamente significativo foi encontrado. Concluímos que o PAS não pode afetar substancialmente populações inteiras. No entanto, é possível visualizar influência positiva em subgrupos específicos, apontando para o seu potencial em reduzir a desigualdade de gênero em relação a prática de AFDL. Recomendamos intervenções mais personalizadas antes de escalonar indistintamente o programa, bem como sugerimos um melhor monitoramento para avaliações em larga escala