ABSTRACT
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-2019) pandemic struck Latin America in late February and is now beginning to spread across the rural indigenous communities in the region, home to 42 million people. Eighty percent of this highly marginalized population is concentrated in Bolivia, Guatemala, Mexico and Peru. Health care services for these ethnic groups face distinct challenges in view of their high levels of marginalization and cultural differences from the majority. Drawing on 30 years of work on the responses of health systems in the indigenous communities of Latin America, our group of researchers believes that countries in the region must be prepared to combat the epidemic in indigenous settings marked by deprivation and social disparity. We discuss four main challenges that need to be addressed by governments to guarantee the health and lives of those at the bottom of the social structure: the indigenous peoples in the region. More than an analysis, our work provides a practical guide for designing and implementing a response to COVID-19 in indigenous communities.
Subject(s)
Coronavirus Infections/epidemiology , Coronavirus , Health Services, Indigenous/organization & administration , Pandemics , Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology , Population Groups , Rural Population , Betacoronavirus , COVID-19 , Ethnicity , Humans , Latin America , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To identify differences in socioeconomic indi-cators, health conditions and use of services between the indigenous (IP) and non-indigenous population (NIP) of the country. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Descriptive cross-sectional study carried out with information obtained by the 2018-19 National Health and Nutrition Survey. RESULTS: Most IP are in the lowest socioeconomic quintile and they use less health services. Indigenous women reported a higher number of children, as well as childbirth care with midwives. IP go for medical care to institutions for the population without social security as the first option but expressed less desire to return to the same place. CONCLUSIONS: IPs use less health services. An epidemiological panorama of double burden and inequity in access indicators that affect IP is configured. Reproductive health is the area where the greatest inequali-ties are observed.
OBJETIVO: Identificar diferencias en indicadores socioeco-nómicos, de condiciones de salud y uso de servicios entre la población indígena (PI) y no indígena (PNI) del país. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio trasversal descriptivo con información de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición 2018-19. RESULTADOS: La mayoría de la PI se encuentra en el quintil socioeconómico más bajo y usa menos los servi-cios de salud. Las mujeres indígenas reportaron un mayor número de hijos, así como atención del parto con parteras. La PI acude por atención médica a las instituciones para población sin seguridad social como primera opción, pero manifiesta menor deseo de regresar a atenderse al mismo lugar. CONCLUSIONES: La PI utiliza menos los servicios de salud. Se configura un panorama epidemiológico de doble carga e inequidad en indicadores de acceso que afecta a la PI. La salud reproductiva es el ámbito donde se observan las mayores desigualdades.
Subject(s)
Health Services, Indigenous , Indigenous Peoples , Patient Acceptance of Health Care/ethnology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Humans , Mexico , Nutrition SurveysABSTRACT
Resumen: Objetivo: Identificar diferencias en indicadores socioeconómicos, de condiciones de salud y uso de servicios entre la población indígena (PI) y no indígena (PNI) del país. Material y métodos: Estudio trasversal descriptivo con información de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición 2018-19. Resultados: La mayoría de la PI se encuentra en el quintil socioeconómico más bajo y usa menos los servicios de salud. Las mujeres indígenas reportaron un mayor número de hijos, así como atención del parto con parteras. La PI acude por atención médica a las instituciones para población sin seguridad social como primera opción, pero manifiesta menor deseo de regresar a atenderse al mismo lugar. Conclusiones: La PI utiliza menos los servicios de salud. Se configura un panorama epidemiológico de doble carga e inequidad en indicadores de acceso que afecta a la PI. La salud reproductiva es el ámbito donde se observan las mayores desigualdades.
Abstract: Objective: To identify differences in socioeconomic indicators, health conditions and use of services between the indigenous (IP) and non-indigenous population (NIP) of the country. Materials and methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study carried out with information obtained by the 2018-19 National Health and Nutrition Survey. Results: Most IP are in the lowest socioeconomic quintile and they use less health services. Indigenous women reported a higher number of children, as well as childbirth care with midwives. IP go for medical care to institutions for the population without social security as the first option but expressed less desire to return to the same place. Conclusions: IPs use less health services. An epidemiological panorama of double burden and inequity in access indicators that affect IP is configured. Reproductive health is the area where the greatest inequalities are observed.
