[Inequalities in time to diagnosis of Down Syndrome in Bolivia]. / Desigualdades en el tiempo hasta el diagnóstico del síndrome de Down en Bolivia.

Down Syndrome is the most common genetic condition and a leading cause of intellectual disability. Individuals in rural areas, particularly those with disabilities, often face disparities in healthcare access. Analyzing clinical records of patients diagnosed with Down Syndrome between 2013 and 2022 by the Institute of Genetics at the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés in La Paz, Bolivia, this study examined the time to diagnosis for 250 patients with Down Syndrome. The findings revealed that patients from rural areas with Down Syndrome take an average of five months to receive a diagnosis, compared to two months in urban areas (p<0.001). No significant differences were found in the time to diagnosis based on gender. However, a higher proportion of males from rural areas was observed (p=0.03). The results suggest that individuals in rural areas face challenges in receiving a timely diagnosis. On the other hand, women may not be brought to cities for proper diagnosis and treatment due to gender biases in certain communities. The importance of improving access to early diagnosis and treatment in rural areas is emphasized.

El síndrome de Down es la condición genética más común y una causa principal de discapacidad intelectual. Las personas en áreas rurales, especialmente aquellas con discapacidades, a menudo enfrentan desigualdades en el acceso a la salud. A partir de los registros clínicos de pacientes con diagnóstico confirmado de síndrome de Down entre 2013 y 2022, por el Instituto de Genética de la Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, La Paz, Bolivia, se analizó, analizó el tiempo hasta el diagnóstico de 250 pacientes con síndrome de Down, mostró que los pacientes procedentes de áreas rurales con síndrome de Down tardan cinco meses en promedio en recibir un diagnóstico, comparado a los dos meses en zonas urbanas (p<0,001). No se encontraron diferencias significativas en el tiempo hasta el diagnostico según el sexo. Sin embargo, se evidenció una mayor proporción de varones provenientes de áreas rurales (p=0,03). Los hallazgos sugieren que los individuos de áreas rurales enfrentan dificultades para recibir el diagnóstico. Por otro lado, las mujeres quizás no sean llevadas a ciudades para un diagnóstico y tratamiento adecuado debido a sesgos de género en ciertas comunidades. Se subraya la importancia de mejorar el acceso a diagnósticos y tratamientos tempranos en áreas rurales.

The association between psychosocial factors, protective factors, and its associated triggers with psychological distress among Bolivian adolescents.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the association between psychosocial factors, protective factors, and its associated triggers with psychological distress among Bolivian adolescents. This cross-sectional study was conducted by investigating the 2018 Bolivia global school-based student health survey (GSHS). The total number of students who participated in this survey was 7931, and the final sample was 7377. The mean age of the participants was 15.3 years (SD = 1.4). Psychological distress was assessed with a 2-item screener (loneliness and worry induced sleep disturbance). In all 22.3% of participants reported experiencing psychological distress, with 18.1% among adolescent males and 26.2% among adolescent females. In adjusted logistic regression analysis (AOR, 95% CI), there are two significant directions of association. One is the negative association, such as parental involvement as a protective factor. School adolescents who had more parental involvement were less likely to experience psychological distress. Parents understand problems or worries (0.64, 0.54-0.75, p < .001) and parents disregard privacy (0.69, 0.58-0.82, p < .001). On the other hand, many psycho-social factors are significantly positively associated with psychological distress. School adolescents who experience more psychosocial factors are more likely to experience psychological distress. Physical assault in the previous year (1.83, 1.59-2.11, p < .001), being bullied at school (1.27, 1.07-1.52, p < .01), being bullied outside of school (1.36, 1.15-1.61, p < .001), and being cyberbullied (1.60, 1.37-1.88, p < .001), were all significantly associated with psychological distress. Healthy relationships in a family, and interventions to reduce violence and bullying, should be encouraged and promoted.

LA SINDEMIA ASOCIADA A COVID-19 Y LOS DERECHOS DE NIÑAS, NIÑOS Y ADOLESCENTES EN LATINOAMÉRICA: ANÁLISIS A PARTIR DE SEIS PAÍSES DE LA REGIÓN, 2023 / The syndemic associated with Covid-19 and the rights of children and adolescents in Latin America: Analysis from six countries in the region, 2023

El presente trabajo constituye un puntal de evidencia científica que queda disponible a los tomadores de decisiones en políticas nacionales y regionales relativas a la población de niñas, niños y adolescentes, y eso por sí solo es una muy buena contribución a la relevancia que debe tener esta población. Este estudio reconoce que vivimos un momento histórico, una ventana de oportunidad para tomar las decisiones adecuadas. Es prioridad contribuir para lograr que las políticas públicas sean eficaces en la garantía de los derechos humanos, esto requiere avanzar en consolidar Estados Sociales de Derecho y Bienestar con sistemas de salud y protección social universales. Asimismo, es fundamental fortalecer las capacidades de trabajo intersectorial y transdisciplinar, la integración regional y la cooperación internacional para hacer realidad la justicia social y ambiental, así como entender que las niñas, niños y adolescentes no son el futuro, son el presente. De lo que hagamos ahora depende el desarrollo y bienestar de nuestros pueblos. En este sentido el análisis se realiza a partir de un marco conceptual que abarca los siguientes aspectos:: Más allá de la pandemia, una sindemia; desigualdades múltiples: una manera de trascender a las desigualdades de ingreso; Derechos Humanos y su operacionalización en el contexto sindémico; Convención sobre los Derechos del Niño; sindemia COVID-19 y los derechos de niñas, niños y adolescentes; sindemia y políticas públicas, sindemia por COVID-19 y un llamado a la acción.

Scaling Up Improved Inpatient Treatment of Severe Malnutrition: Key Factors and Experiences From South Africa, Bolivia, Malawi, and Ghana.

Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) can have high mortality, especially in very ill children treated in the hospital. Many medical and nursing schools do not adequately, if at all, teach how to manage children with SAM. There is a dearth of experienced practitioners and trainers to serve as exemplars of good practice or participate in capacity development. We consider 4 country studies of scaling up implementation of WHO guidelines for improving the inpatient management of SAM within under-resourced public sector health services in South Africa, Bolivia, Malawi, and Ghana. Drawing on implementation reports, qualitative and quantitative data from our research, prospective and retrospective data collection, self-reflection, and our shared experiences, we review our capacity-building approaches for improving quality of care, implementation effectiveness, and lessons learned. These country studies provide important evidence that improved inpatient management of SAM is scalable in routine health services and scalability is achievable within different contexts and health systems. Effectiveness in reducing inpatient SAM deaths appears to be retained at scale.The country studies show evidence of impact on mortality early in the implementation and scaling-up process. However, it took many years to build workforce capacity, establish monitoring and mentoring procedures, and institutionalize the guidelines within health systems. Key features for success included collaborations to build capacity and undertake operational research and advocacy for guideline adoption; specialist teams to mentor and build confidence and competency through supportive supervision; and political commitment and administrative policies for sustainability. For frontline staff to be confident in their ability to deliver appropriate care competently, an enabling environment and supportive policies and processes are needed at all levels of the health system.

Results and evaluation of the expansion of a model of comprehensive care for Chagas disease within the National Health System: The Bolivian Chagas network.

BACKGROUND: Most people with chronic Chagas disease do not receive specific care and therefore are undiagnosed and do not receive accurate treatment. This manuscript discusses and evaluates a collaborative strategy to improve access to healthcare for patients with Chagas in Bolivia, a country with the highest prevalence of Chagas in the world. METHODS: With the aim of reinforcing the Chagas National Programme, the Bolivian Chagas Platform was born in 2009. The first stage of the project was to implement a vertical pilot program in order to introduce and consolidate a consensual protocol-based healthcare, working in seven centers (Chagas Platform Centers). From 2015 on the model was extended to 52 primary healthcare centers, through decentralized, horizontal scaling-up. To evaluate the strategy, we have used the WHO ExpandNet program. RESULTS: The strategy has significantly increased the number of patients cared for, with 181,397 people at risk of having T. cruzi infection tested and 57,871 (31·9%) new diagnostics performed. In those with treatment criteria, 79·2% completed the treatment. The program has also trained a significant number of health personnel through the specific Chagas guidelines (67% of healthcare workers in the intervention area). CONCLUSIONS: After being recognized by the Chagas National Programme as a healthcare model aligned with national laws and priorities, the Bolivian platform of Chagas as an innovation, includes attributes that they have made it possible to expand the strategy at the national level and could also be adapted in other countries.

Consumption-based carbon emissions, trade, and globalization: an empirical study of Bolivia.

The consequences of global trade on carbon dioxide emissions have been mainly investigated in several empirical papers; however, the consumption-based carbon emissions adjusted for international trade have been lacking in the literature. This empirical research seeks to address this gap by using consumption-based carbon emissions adjusted for trade in the case of Bolivia. Research over the years shows that Bolivia has had a consistent negative trade deficit which suggests that there might be a rise in consumption-based emission in this area in the present and the future. It also indicates that considerable emissions are attributable to the consumption of commodities and services transferred to Bolivia, which is beyond its control. Many studies, however, have delved into the production-based carbon emission for Bolivia. However, the consumption-based carbon emission adjusted for international trade has been missing in the case of Bolivia. Meanwhile, failure to recognize these emissions related to international trade produces an incomplete picture of the emissions triggers and the effectiveness of action to lessen emissions in this area. Hence, this study attempts to fill the gap. The impact of exports and imports are analyzed separately for 1970 to 2018. The empirical analysis confirms a negative effect of exports and GDP on consumption-based carbon emissions. In comparison, imports and globalization demonstrate a favorable impact on consumption-based carbon emissions and show their statistical significance. This study suggests that the Bolivia government should be cautious on policies targeted at increasing growth as this could be harmful to the sustainability of the environment.

Las desigualdades matan. Informe de Oxfam / Inequalities kill. Oxfam Report

Webinar N° 103 del ORAS-CONHU, realizado el 27 de enero de 2022, Oxfam presentó el informe "Las desigualdades matan. Se requieren medidas sin precedentes para acabar con el inaceptable aumento de las desigualdades por la COVID-19". Conferencistas del webinar: Carlos Mejía, Director Ejecutivo Oxfam Colombia, Gloria García, Directora Regional de Programas e Influencia Oxfam en América Latina y Ernesto Rodríguez, Consultor ORAS-CONHU, Director del Centro Latinoamericano sobre Juventud.

Unequal Access and Use of Health Care Services among Settled Immigrants, Recent Immigrants, and Locals: A Comparative Analysis of a Nationally Representative Survey in Chile.

Globally, and particularly in the Latin American region, international migration continues to grow. Access and use of health care services by migrants vary according to their country of origin and residence time. We aimed to compare the access and use of health care services between international migrants (including settled migrants from Peru, Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador; Emerging migrants from Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Haiti; and migrants from other countries) and the Chilean population. After performing a secondary data analysis of population-based nationally representative surveys (CASEN 2011-2017), access and use patterns (insurance, complementary insurance, non-consultation, and non-treatment coverage) were described and compared among settled immigrants, recent emerging immigrants, others, and locals. Immigrants had a significantly higher uninsured population compared to locals. Specifically, in CASEN 2017, 19.27% of emerging (95% CI: 15.3-24.1%), 11.79% of settled (95% CI: 10.1-13.7%), and 2.25% of locals (95% CI: 2.1-2.4%) were uninsured. After 2013, settled and recent emerging migrants showed higher percentages of non-consultation. Collaborative and interculturally relevant strategies from human rights and equity perspectives are needed. Initiatives with a particular focus on recent immigrants can contribute to reducing the existing disparities in health care access and use with locals due to lack of insurance and treatment coverage.

Environmental assessment of construction and demolition waste recycling in Bolivia: Focus on transportation distances and selective collection rates.

Construction and demolition waste (CDW) management in developing countries is a global concern. The analysis of scenarios and the implementation of life cycle assessment (LCA) support decision-makers in introducing integrated CDW management systems. This paper introduces the application of an LCA in La Paz (Bolivia), where CDW is mainly dumped in open areas. The aim of the research is to evaluate the benefits of inert CDW recycling in function of the selective collection rate, defined as the amount of waste (%wt.) sorted at the source in relation to the total waste amount produced, and the distances from the CDW generation to the material recycling facility. The outcomes of the research suggest that increasing the selective collection rates (5% to 99%) spread the importance of transportation distances planning since it affects the magnitude of the environmental impacts (1.05 tCO2-eq to 20.7 tCO2-eq per km traveled). Transportation limits have been found to be lower than about 40 km in order to make recycling beneficial for all environmental impacts and for all selective collection rate, with the eutrophication potential as the limiting indicator. The theoretical analysis suggests implementing LCA with primary data and involving statistics related to the transportation of virgin materials avoided thanks to recycling. The outcomes of the research support the implementation of CDW recycling in developing countries since it has been found that material recovery is always beneficial.

Traditional and biomedical maternal and neonatal care practices in a rural Indigenous population of the Bolivian Amazon.

In recent decades, Bolivia has expanded maternal and child health insurance coverage to improve access to prenatal and early life health care. Nationally, however, maternal and child health disparities persist along a rural-urban divide. Research is needed among rural populations to better understand local barriers to health care access and usage. Particularly among Indigenous populations, disparities may be compounded by differences in preferences for and access to traditional versus biomedical health care. We examined prenatal care and birth practices among Tsimane forager-farmers of El Beni, Bolivia. From 2012-2013, we interviewed 151 Tsimane mothers (0-35 months postpartum) from nine villages about birth and neonatal care practices, prenatal care, and pharmaceutical usage during labour and postpartum recovery. Results demonstrate local disparities in biomedical care usage by ease of access (e.g. proximity to market town, Spanish fluency), and maternal experience (e.g. parity and prior offspring death or miscarriage). While 59% of interviewed mothers had received at least one prenatal screening, services performed in screenings were limited. Nearly all women continue to birth at home with family assistance. Inconsistent access to health care services may be exacerbated by regional, generational, and educational disparities within the population.

An assessment of the taxonomic validity of three species of marsupial frogs (Anura: Hemiphractidae: Gastrotheca) from the Yungas of Bolivia based on external morphology and cranial osteology.

The genus Gastrotheca (Anura: Hemiphractidae) is a group of marsupial frogs particularly diverse in Andean regions. Several taxonomic studies of this genus have been conducted in the humid cloud forestsor Yungasof the Andean eastern slopes of central Bolivia (departments of Cochabamba and Santa Cruz). Yet, the distinction among three species that occur sympatrically in these forests, G. lauzuricae (proposed as a junior synonym of G. coeruleomaculatus in 2015), G. piperata, and G. splendens, remains unclear since the morphological characters that purportedly support their differentiation are variable and partly shared among them. We have carried out external morphological studies, including multivariate morphometric analyses, to assess how they support the taxonomic status of these three species. We also evaluated characters of the cranial osteology of a sample of six individuals using micro CT-scanning. Principal component and linear discriminant analyses resulted in a great overlap among the putative species. Cranial osteological comparisons did not reveal highly significant differences among them, but suggested that different degrees of hyperossification could be related to the developmental state of individuals. Our results indicate that most morphological and osteological reported differences between the three species likely represent intraspecific variation. Thus, we propose that the three nominal species belong to a single biological entity, for which the name Gastrotheca splendens (Schmidt, 1857) has priority. We also restrict the name Gastrotheca coeruleomaculatus (Werner, 1899) to externally similar congeneric populations from the Yungas forests of department of La Paz, but highlighting the need of a detailed evaluation of their taxonomic identity.

Informe anual 2020. La salud universal y la pandemia. Sistemas de salud resilientes. Bolivia (Estado Plurinacional de)

Establecida en 1902 como el organismo independiente especializado en salud del sistema interamericano, la Organización Panamericana de la Salud (OPS) ha desarrollado competencias y experiencia ampliamente reconocidas al brindar cooperación técnica a sus Estados Miembros para combatir las enfermedades transmisibles y no transmisibles y sus causas, fortalecer los sistemas de salud y responder a situaciones de emergencia y desastres en toda la Región de las Américas. Asimismo, en su calidad de oficina regional de la Organización Mundial de la Salud, la OPS participa activamente en los equipos de las Naciones Unidas en los países, colaborando con otros organismos, fondos y programas del sistema de las Naciones Unidas para contribuir al logro de los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) a nivel de país. En este informe anual se presenta la cooperación técnica de la OPS a nivel de país en el 2020, mediante la aplicación de la estrategia de cooperación con el país, la respuesta a las necesidades y prioridades nacionales, y el desarrollo de las actividades en el marco de los mandatos regionales y mundiales de la Organización y los ODS. En consonancia con el tema general de "la salud universal y la pandemia: sistemas de salud resilientes", se pone de relieve la respuesta de la OPS a la pandemia de COVID-19, así como sus esfuerzos continuos en esferas prioritarias como las enfermedades transmisibles, las enfermedades no transmisibles, la salud mental, la salud a lo largo del curso de vida y las emergencias de salud. También se presenta un resumen financiero del ejercicio examinado.

Out-of-Pocket Expenditure: The Need for a Gender Analysis

The main purpose of this publication is to advocate for the need to understand the gendered nature of vulnerabilities to poor health. Gender equality in health is an integral dimension of sustainable development, and it is critical to apply a “gender lens” to all aspects of the health system, including financing mechanisms in health. The impact of health-related out-of-pocket expenditure (OPE) on household poverty has been a significant factor driving the move toward universal health coverage across much of Latin America and beyond. However, not only do health care users still face a broad range of health-related OPEs that can contribute to the impoverishment of households, but the gender dimensions of OPEs have received very little attention. Drawing primarily on data from Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Peru, this report offers an in-depth analysis of the gender dimensions of health-related OPEs in Latin America. It highlights the limitations of survey data in determining levels of household spending on health as well as the potential failure of indicators to capture the impacts of coping strategies that households adopt to pay for OPEs. This publication calls for the application of an intersectional analysis to ensure a more nuanced understanding of the ways in which other social identity markers, such as race and ethnicity, alongside gender shape the ability of individuals and households to respond to the different OPEs they may encounter. Until policymakers consider the issue through a gender lens, OPE will continue to limit the potential of universal health care coverage to effectively address health inequalities.

Gastos directos de bolsillo en salud: la necesidad de un análisis de género

El objetivo principal de esta publicación es defender la necesidad de comprender la naturaleza de género de las vulnerabilidades a la mala salud. La igualdad de género en la salud es una dimensión integral del desarrollo sostenible, por lo que es fundamental aplicar una perspectiva de género a todos los aspectos del sistema de salud, incluidos los mecanismos de financiamiento de la salud. El impacto de los gastos directos de bolsillo relacionados con la salud en la pobreza de los hogares ha sido un factor importante que ha impulsado el avance hacia la cobertura universal de salud en gran parte de América Latina y en otros países. Sin embargo, no solo los usuarios de la atención de salud siguen enfrentándose a una amplia gama de gastos directos de bolsillo relacionados con la salud que pueden contribuir al empobrecimiento de los hogares, sino que las dimensiones de género de estos gastos han recibido muy poca atención. Basándose principalmente en datos de Bolivia (Estado Plurinacional de), Guatemala, Nicaragua y Perú, en este informe se ofrece un análisis en profundidad de las dimensiones de género que tienen los gastos directos de bolsillo relacionados con la salud en América Latina. Se destacan las limitaciones de los datos de las encuestas a la hora de determinar los niveles de gasto de los hogares en salud, así como la posible imposibilidad de que los indicadores capten los efectos de las estrategias de afrontamiento que adoptan los hogares para pagar por los gastos directos de bolsillo. En esta publicación se hace un llamamiento a aplicar un análisis interseccional para comprender con más matices las formas en que otros marcadores de identidad social, como la raza y la etnia, junto con el género, determinan la capacidad de las personas y los hogares para responder a los diferentes gastos directos de bolsillo que puedan encontrar. Hasta que los responsables de las políticas no consideren la cuestión desde una perspectiva de género, los gastos directos de bolsillo seguirán limitando el potencial de la cobertura universal de salud para abordar eficazmente las desigualdades de salud.

Optimizing Tobacco Advertising Bans in Seven Latin American Countries: Microsimulation Modeling of Health and Financial Impact to Inform Evidence-Based Policy.

INTRODUCTION: In Latin America, tobacco smoking prevalence is between 6.4% and 35.2%. Governments have been making efforts to support the regulation of advertising and, in many cases, banning advertising and promotion of tobacco altogether. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential impact on health and economic outcomes of optimizing a ban on tobacco advertising and sponsorship in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru. METHODS: We built a probabilistic microsimulation model, considering natural history, direct health system costs, and quality of life impairment associated with main tobacco-related diseases. We followed individuals in hypothetical cohorts and calculated health outcomes on an annual basis to obtain aggregated 10-year population health outcomes (deaths, events, healthy years of life) and costs. To populate the model, we performed a rapid review of literature to calculate intervention effectiveness. RESULTS: With current policies, over 10 years, in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, and Colombia a total of 50,000 deaths and 364,000 disease events will be averted, saving $7.2 billion. If the seven countries strengthened their policies and implemented a comprehensive ban with 100% compliance, 98,000 deaths and 648,000 events would be averted over 10 years, saving almost $15 billion in healthcare costs. CONCLUSIONS: Optimizing a ban on tobacco advertising and sponsorship would substantially reduce deaths, diseases, and health care costs attributed to smoking. Latin American countries should not delay the full implementation of this strategy.

Promover la equidad en la inmunización en las Américas. La colaboración intersectorial, la participación de la sociedad civil y el compromiso de la comunidad: Sucre (Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia)

En Bolivia, la participación pública en la toma de decisiones, la gestión y la supervisión del sistema de salud público está consagrada en la Constitución Nacional. El modelo de Salud Familiar Comunitaria Intercultural (SAFCI) proporciona un marco de orientación para la participación mediante el establecimiento de la estructura social no partidista de la SAFCI y espacios de deliberación para evaluar las prioridades de la salud pública, el cumplimiento de las políticas y la calidad de la atención. En consonancia con el objetivo estratégico 2.1 del Plan de Acción sobre Inmunización de garantizar que los beneficios de la inmunización se extiendan de manera equitativa a todas las personas y grupos sociales, el Programa Ampliado de Inmunización (PAI) de Sucre, Bolivia ha aplicado el modelo de la SAFCI para promover la equidad en materia de inmunización...

Promoting Immunization Equity in the Americas. Intersectoral Collaboration, Civil Society Participation, and Community Engagement: Sucre, Bolivia (Plurinational State of)

In Bolivia (Plurinational State of), public participation in the decision making, management, and monitoring of the public health system is enshrined in the national constitution. The Family, Community, and Intercultural Health Model (Salud Familiar Comunitaria Intercultural—SAFCI) provides a guiding framework for such involvement through the establishment of the nonpartisan SAFCI social structure and participatory spaces of deliberation to assess public health priorities, policy compliance, and quality of care. Reflecting the Regional Immunization Action Plan’s strategic objective 2.1 to ensure that “immunization benefits extend equitably to all people and social groups,” the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) in Sucre, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), has applied the SAFCI model to promoting immunization equity...

Do wealth and inequality associate with health in a small-scale subsistence society?

In high-income countries, one's relative socio-economic position and economic inequality may affect health and well-being, arguably via psychosocial stress. We tested this in a small-scale subsistence society, the Tsimane, by associating relative household wealth (n = 871) and community-level wealth inequality (n = 40, Gini = 0.15-0.53) with a range of psychological variables, stressors, and health outcomes (depressive symptoms [n = 670], social conflicts [n = 401], non-social problems [n = 398], social support [n = 399], cortisol [n = 811], body mass index [n = 9,926], blood pressure [n = 3,195], self-rated health [n = 2523], morbidities [n = 1542]) controlling for community-average wealth, age, sex, household size, community size, and distance to markets. Wealthier people largely had better outcomes while inequality associated with more respiratory disease, a leading cause of mortality. Greater inequality and lower wealth were associated with higher blood pressure. Psychosocial factors did not mediate wealth-health associations. Thus, relative socio-economic position and inequality may affect health across diverse societies, though this is likely exacerbated in high-income countries.

Poverty is bad for health. People living in poverty are more likely to struggle to afford nutritious food, lack access to health care, or be overworked or stressed. This may make them susceptible to chronic diseases, contribute to faster aging, and shorten their lifespans. In high-income countries, there is growing evidence to suggest that a person's 'rank' in society also impacts their health. For example, individuals who have a lower position in the social hierarchy report worse health outcomes, regardless of their incomes. But it is unclear why living in an unequal society or having a lower social status contributes to poorer health. One possibility is that inequalities in society are creating a stressful environment that leads to worse physical and mental outcomes. It is thought that this stress largely comes from how humans evolved to prioritize reaching a higher social status over having a long and healthy life. If this is the case, this would mean that the link between social status and health would also be present in non-industrialized communities where social hierarchies tend to be less pronounced. To test this, Jaeggi, Blackwell et al. studied the Indigenous Tsimane population in Bolivia who live in small communities and forage and farm their own food. The income and relative wealth of 870 households from 40 Tsimane communities were compared against various outcomes, including symptoms associated with depression, stress hormone levels, blood pressure, self-rated health and several diseases. Jaeggi, Blackwell et al. found poverty and inequality did not negatively impact all of the health outcomes measured as has been previously reported for industrialized societies. However, blood pressure was higher among people with lower incomes or those who lived in more unequal communities. But because the Tsimane people generally have low blood pressure, the differences were too small to have much effect on their health. People who lived in more unequal communities were also three times more likely to have respiratory infections, but the reason for this was unclear. This shows that social determinants such as a person's wealth or inequality can affect health, even in communities with less rigid social hierarchies. In industrial societies the effect may be worse in part because they are compounded by lifestyle factors, such as diets rich in fat and sugar, and physical inactivity which can also increase blood pressure. This information may help policy makers reduce health disparities by addressing some of the social determinants of health and the lifestyle factors that cause them.

Happy just because. A cross-cultural study on subjective wellbeing in three Indigenous societies.

While cross-cultural research on subjective well-being and its multiple drivers is growing, the study of happiness among Indigenous peoples continues to be under-represented in the literature. In this work, we measure life satisfaction through open-ended questionnaires to explore levels and drivers of subjective well-being among 474 adults in three Indigenous societies across the tropics: the Tsimane' in Bolivian lowland Amazonia, the Baka in southeastern Cameroon, and the Punan in Indonesian Borneo. We found that life satisfaction levels in the three studied societies are slightly above neutral, suggesting that most people in the sample consider themselves as moderately happy. We also found that respondents provided explanations mostly when their satisfaction with life was negative, as if moderate happiness was the normal state and explanations were only needed when reporting a different life satisfaction level due to some exceptionally good or bad occurrence. Finally, we also found that issues related to health and-to a lesser extent-social life were the more prominent explanations for life satisfaction. Our research not only highlights the importance to understand, appreciate and respect Indigenous peoples' own perspectives and insights on subjective well-being, but also suggests that the greatest gains in subjective well-being might be achieved by alleviating the factors that tend to make people unhappy.