Culturally adapted cognitive assessment tool for Indigenous communities in Brazil: Content, construct, and criterion validity.

INTRODUCTION: Initial dementia prevalence estimates have revealed a significant burden of the disease in Indigenous communities in Amazonas, Brazil. However, the need for culturally adapted cognitive tools poses a critical challenge when assessing cognitive performance in these communities. This study addressed this issue by culturally adapting and providing validity indicators for the Brazilian Indigenous Cognitive Assessment (BRICA) tool in Manaus, Brazil's urban multiethnic Indigenous community. METHODS: Using a three-stage process and a stakeholder-engaged approach, the BRICA tool was culturally adapted in an urban multiethnic Indigenous community from Manaus, Brazil. The content validity index (CVI) examined inter-rater concordance between experts, while criterion and concurrent validity were performed using diagnostic consensus criteria in 141 Indigenous participants aged ≥ 50 years. RESULTS: Findings showed evidence of content validity in terms of equivalence aspects (scale CVI [S-CVI] 0.93) and relevance ratings (S-CVI 0.85) between expert panels. The identified cut-off score of ≤ 33/39 on the BRICA demonstrated a sensitivity of 94.4%, specificity of 99.2%, positive predictive value of 94.4%, and negative predictive value of 99.2% for dementia diagnosis. DISCUSSION: Using a stakeholder-engaged approach, we culturally adapted the BRICA tool for a Brazilian urban multiethnic Indigenous community. This comprehensive adaptation process resulted in favorable indicators of content, construct, and criteria validity for the BRICA tool. By addressing the existing bias in cognitive assessment within Indigenous communities, the BRICA tool represents a noteworthy breakthrough. Its implementation exhibits potential for improving the early detection and management of dementia among Indigenous groups. Highlights: Culturally sensitive tools are essential to assess cognition in Indigenous populations.An expert panel and stakeholders' perspectives were incorporated to design the Brazilian Indigenous Cognitive Assessment (BRICA) tool.A cognitive screening tool was adapted and validated using a stakeholder approach.BRICA is the first culturally sensitive cognitive tool for urban Brazilian Indigenous individuals.

COVID-19 and Cognitive and Mental Health During Post-Infection Phase: A Study Among Middle-Aged and Older Indigenous Adults From Brazilian Amazons.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the rate of self-reported coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) and its association with mental and cognitive health during the post-infection phase among middle-aged and older indigenous adults. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted, including 141 individuals ≥50 and over from an urban indigenous community in Amazonas, Brazil. COVID-19 was deduced from self-reported infections. Cognitive function was evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Exam, Brief Cognitive Screening Battery (BCSB), and language fluency tests. Meanwhile, mental health was assessed through validated scales examining happiness, stress, and depression symptoms. The association between the rate of COVID-19 and cognitive and mental well-being was analyzed using logistic and linear regressions, adjusted for covariates. RESULTS: From March 2020 to February 2022, 65.2% of the urban indigenous group tested positive for COVID-19. Lower functional capacity decreased the odds of contracting COVID-19 (p = .03). Adjusted linear regression models showed that COVID-19 was associated with higher BCSB learning (p = .017) and delayed recall (p = .028). Women, higher age, lower functional capacity, and hospitalization were associated with worse cognitive performance (p < .05). No impact of mental health indicators on past COVID-19 infection was noted. DISCUSSION: COVID-19 was prevalent among urban Indigenous Brazilians. Unexpectedly, it was linked to enhanced learning and memory, not mental health issues. Cognitive performance was lower for men, older individuals, those with less functional ability, and hospitalized patients, indicating that participant characteristics and disease severity affect the COVID-19 and cognition relationship. Longitudinal studies across diverse Indigenous communities are necessary to understand COVID-19's impact on their cognitive and mental health.

A saúde indígena nas cidades: redes de atenção, cuidado tradicional e intercultural / Indigenous health in cities: care networks, traditional and intercultural care

O livro "A saúde indígena nas cidades: redes de atenção, cuidado tradicional e intercultural", se consolidou a partir de trabalhos e incursões desenvolvidos junto aos povos indígenas no Brasil, com especial atenção aos que vivem em contextos urbanizados. O conjunto da obra aborda experiências na atenção básica e especializada com populações indígenas, o trabalho em saúde indígena, promoção e educação em saúde indígena, vigilância de agravos com populações indígenas, cuidado tradicional e intercultural, ações de enfrentamento da covid-19 nos territórios na relação com as redes de atenção instituídas nos centros urbanos de cidades situadas nos estados do Amazonas, Tocantins, São Paulo, Mato Grosso, Santa Catarina. O livro concentra um conjunto de relatos e resultados de pesquisas, bem como reflexões fundamentadas sobre processos, estruturas e contextos diferenciados de produção de cuidado, na perspectiva da multiculturalidade, representativos das populações indígenas que acessam os serviços de saúde de quatro das cinco regiões brasileiras. Assim, a obra colabora com a realização de um mundo melhor, quando apresenta dispositivos, arranjos e agenciamentos para a produção do cuidado junto a populações vulneráveis socioambientalmente, contrariando um sistema social discriminatório para indígenas que gera desigualdades sociais, principalmente nos centros urbanos.

Resolutividade no Subsistema de Atenção à Saúde Indígena no Brasil: revisão de escopo / Resolubility in the Indigenous Health Care Subsystem in Brazil: scope review / Resolución en el Subsistema de Atención de la Salud Indígena en Brasil: revisión del alcance

RESUMO: A resolutividade relaciona-se à capacidade de solução dos problemas de saúde nos serviços. Em 1999, o Subsistema de Atenção à Saúde Indígena foi integrado ao Sistema Único de Saúde no Brasil, passando a seguir os seus princípios e diretrizes. Este estudo teve por objetivo identificar e mapear os desafios ou problemas relacionados às práticas em saúde para a resolutividade no Subsistema de Saúde Indígena após a integração. Trata-se de uma revisão de escopo que utilizou seis bases de dados nacionais e internacionais. Os estudos elegíveis tiveram como critério base o mnemônico PCC (P: população indígena; C: desafios ou problemas para a resolutividade; C: subsistema de saúde indígena brasileiro). Foram encontrados 1.748 estudos e selecionados 33, com predomínio de estudos qualitativos. Os desafios ou problemas sensíveis para o processo da resolutividade foram encontrados nos aspectos que tangem à educação em saúde, à interculturalidade, ao acesso universal e aos recursos em gestão. O saber tradicional é pouco valorizado pelo sistema de saúde. A deficiência de recursos humanos e materiais, a falta de efetiva educação permanente e de capacitações para trabalhar no contexto intercultural produzem barreiras de acesso e comprometem a resolutividade nos serviços, aumentando assim as iniquidades em saúde.

ABSTRACT: Resolubility relates to the ability to solve health problems in services. In 1999, the Indigenous Health Care Subsystem was integrated into the Brazilian Unified Health System, following its principles and guidelines. The objective of this study was to identify and map the challenges or problems related to health practices for solving in the Indigenous Health Subsystem after integration. This is a scope review that used six national and international databases. Eligible studies were based on mnemonic PCC (P: indigenous population; C: challenges or problems for resolution; C: Brazilian indigenous health subsystem). A total of 1,748 studies were found and 33 were selected, with predominance of qualitative studies. The challenges or problems that are sensitive to the resolution process were found in the aspects that are related to health education, interculturality, universal access and management resources. Traditional knowledge is underrated by the health system. The deficiency of human and material resources, the lack of effective permanent education and capacitations to work in the intercultural context, produce barriers to access and compromise the resolubility in services, thus increasing the inequities in health.

RESUMEN: La resolución se refiere a la capacidad de resolver problemas de salud en los servicios. En 1999, el Subsistema de Atención de Salud Indígena se integró en el Sistema Único de Salud de Brasil, siguiendo sus principios y directrices. El objetivo de este estudio fue identificar y mapear los desafíos o problemas relacionados con las prácticas de salud para resolver en el Subsistema de Salud Indígena después de la integración. Esta es una revisión de alcance que utilizó seis bases de datos nacionales e internacionales. Los estudios elegibles se basaron en PCC mnemónicos (P: población indígena; C: desafíos o problemas para la resolución; C: subsistema de salud indígena brasileño). Se encontraron 1.748 estudios y se seleccionaron 33, con predominio de estudios cualitativos. Los desafíos o problemas que son sensibles al proceso de resolución se encontraron en los aspectos que están relacionados con la educación en salud, la interculturalidad, el acceso universal y los recursos de gestión. El conocimiento tradicional es subestimado por el sistema de salud. La deficiencia de recursos humanos y materiales, la falta de educación permanente efectiva y de capacitaciones para trabajar en el contexto intercultural, producen barreras para acceder y comprometer la solubilidad en los servicios, aumentando así las desigualdades en salud.

Prevalence of cognitive impairment in Brazilian indigenous community from Amazonas / Prevalência de comprometimento cognitivo em indígenas brasileiros do amazonas

ABSTRACT. Studies on the prevalence of dementia in the indigenous population are still scarce worldwide. In the few available studies, prevalence evidence varies from low to very high, with early onset of the disease and high mortality rate after the initial diagnosis. Still, little is known about the rate of dementia in indigenous populations from low- and middle-income countries, where the dementia prevalence in the general population is estimated to increase significantly in the next decades. Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of cognitive impairment and associated factors in Brazilian indigenous people of the Mura ethnicity in Amazonas, Brazil. Methods: A total of 217 indigenous individuals aged 50 years and older from Amazonas, Brazil, were submitted to cognitive assessment. Attention, memory, verbal fluency, visuospatial performance, and mood state composed the cognitive impairment diagnosis. Results: The prevalence of cognitive impairment was 43.3% (95%CI 36.6-49.7) and varied according to age [OR=1.03 (95%CI 1.00-1.06)], education [OR=0.74 (95%CI 0.62-0.87)], body mass index [OR=0.91 (95%CI 0.83-0.98)], and income [OR=0.52 (95%CI 0.27-0.99)]. Conclusions: Cognitive impairment had an early onset in an indigenous community, and its prevalence was greater in older individuals with low education and low family income. These findings highlight the importance of implementing public indigenous health policies focusing on health professional training for early cognitive impairment detection.

RESUMO. No mundo, estudos sobre a prevalência de demência em idosos indígenas são insuficientes, porém nas evidências disponíveis, a prevalência varia de baixa a muito alta, com início precoce da doença e elevada taxa de mortalidade após o diagnóstico inicial. As evidências em países de baixa e média renda são escassas, e neles a prevalência de demência aumentará significativamente nas próximas décadas. Objetivo: Determinar a prevalência de déficit cognitivo e fatores associados em indígenas brasileiros da etnia Mura no Amazonas, Brasil. Métodos: Duzentos e dezessete indígenas com 50 anos ou mais do Amazonas, Brasil, foram submetidos a avaliação cognitiva. Atenção, memória, fluência verbal, desempenho visuoespacial e estado de humor compuseram o diagnóstico de déficit cognitivo. Resultados: A prevalência de déficit cognitivo foi de 43,3% (intervalo de confiança - IC95% 36,6-49,7) e variou de acordo com a idade [odds ratio - OR=1,03 (IC95% 1,00-1,06)], educação [OR=0,74 (IC95% 0,62-0,87)], índice de massa corporal [OR=0,91 (IC95% 0,83-0,98)] e renda [OR=0,52 (IC95% 0,27-0,99)]. Conclusões: O comprometimento cognitivo teve início precoce na comunidade indígena, sendo sua prevalência maior em idosos com baixa escolaridade e baixa renda familiar. Esses achados destacam a importância da implementação de políticas públicas de saúde indígena, com foco na formação de profissionais de saúde, para a detecção precoce do déficit cognitivo.