The genomic landscape of Mexican Indigenous populations brings insights into the peopling of the Americas.

The genetic makeup of Indigenous populations inhabiting Mexico has been strongly influenced by geography and demographic history. Here, we perform a genome-wide analysis of 716 newly genotyped individuals from 60 of the 68 recognized ethnic groups in Mexico. We show that the genetic structure of these populations is strongly influenced by geography, and our demographic reconstructions suggest a decline in the population size of all tested populations in the last 15-30 generations. We find evidence that Aridoamerican and Mesoamerican populations diverged roughly 4-9.9 ka, around the time when sedentary farming started in Mesoamerica. Comparisons with ancient genomes indicate that the Upward Sun River 1 (USR1) individual is an outgroup to Mexican/South American Indigenous populations, whereas Anzick-1 was more closely related to Mesoamerican/South American populations than to those from Aridoamerica, showing an even more complex history of divergence than recognized so far.

Alta prevalencia en el consumo de tabaco y desigualdades en población Lenca, Intibucá, Honduras, 2015 / High prevalence of tobacco consumption and inequalities in Lenca population, Intibucá, Honduras, 2015

Antecedentes: Aproximadamente un sexto de la población mundial tiene el hábito de fumar para una prevalencia de 24%. La OMS considera que, de no cambiar las tendencias durante el siglo XXI, el tabaco será responsable de la muerte prematura de mil millones de personas. Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia del consumo de tabaco y la medición de desigualdades socioeconómicas en la población Lenca, Municipio de Intibucá, Intibucá, Honduras, 2015. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo transversal con análisis de asociación. Se aplicó formulario estructurado para recolectar datos generales, sociodemográficos y tabaquismo, previo consentimiento informado. Dependencia al tabaco fue evaluada con test Faguerström. Se prepararon bases de datos en Epi-info-7 y SPSS-18. Se calcularon razones de disparidad (OR). Resultados: De un total de 602 entrevistados,se identificaron 167 fumadores para una prevalencia de consumo de tabaco de 27.7%. El 76.6% (128) de fumadores tuvo dependencia baja a nicotina y 23.4% (39) dependencia moderada. La media de ingreso familiar mensual fue USD$193 en fumadores y USD$168 en no fumadores. El 40.1% (67) de fumadores gastó mensualmente en tabaco un mínimo de USD$95. No se encontró relación entre consumo de tabaco e ingreso familiar mensual (OR=0.87, IC95% 0.7-1.0) ni con analfabetismo (OR=1.20, IC95% 0.7-2.0). Discusión: No se observaron diferencias significativas entre consumo de tabaco y las variables socioeconómicas, se encontró una elevada prevalencia de consumo de tabaco en esta población en relación con otros estudios realizados en el país. Los resultados apoyan la necesidad de políticas enfocadas en prevención del tabaco en indígenas...(AU)

Evaluation of prevalence of different types of cancer and its chemotherapy in various ethnic groups of Pakistan: A retrospective study

The objective of the study was to evaluate different types of cancer and its chemotherapy in various ethnic groups of Pakistan. Ethnic groups includes, Pukhtoons, Punjabis, Sindhis, Muhajirs, Siraikis, Memoons, Hazaras, Hindkos, Baltis, Gilgitis, Kashmiris, and Afghanis. The data was collected from well reputed hospitals located in the different provinces of Pakistan. The collected data was taken from 15 hospitals where around 8500 patients visited during 2010 to 2017. From the visited patients, 8356 were analyzed for their ethnicity, age and sex while, 144 patients (male 77 and female 67) were excluded from analysis due to incomplete information or loss of follow-up. Among 8356 patients, 3762 were male (45%) whereas, 4594 were female (55%). The chemotherapy was carried out as per National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines (NCCN- guidelines). The most common five prevalent cancer among these ethnic groups were Head and Neck, Blood, Respiratory, Genito-urinary and Breast cancer. The most common cancer in female was breast cancer while, head and neck cancer was more prevalent in male. It can be concluded that the prevalence of cancer in Pakistan is very alarming, which may be due to lack of awareness, illiteracy, lack of national cancer control programs, and economics issues.

Validação do método de carrea na região noroeste do estado do paraná, brasil / Carrea’s method validation in northwest of Paraná State, Brazil

A identificação humana é um processo de fundamental importância para a sociedade. As análisesantropológicas na Odontologia fornecem informações para a estimativa de sexo, idade, ancestralidade,estatura, dentre outros. Com base na análise de determinados dentes é possível ter um parâmetro daestatura do indivíduo e com isto auxiliar no processo investigativo de identidade. O objetivo deste trabalhofoi verificar a eficácia do método de estimativa de estatura de Carrea em indivíduos residentes na regiãoNoroeste do Estado do Paraná, considerando sexo e faixa etária. Foram avaliados 180 indivíduos deambos os sexos, estando na faixa etária de 12 a 69 anos. Mensurou- se a estatura de cada um delesatravés do uso de um antropômetro. Para a estimativa pelo método de Carrea, foram feitas mensuraçõesna arcada inferior. Os resultados demonstraram que o método de Carrea estimou em 91,6% a estaturareal dos indivíduos. Entretanto, para alguns casos foi grande a diferença entre estatura máxima e mínima.Não houve associação estatística entre a eficácia do método com sexo e/ou faixa etária dos indivíduosavaliados. Com base nestes achados conclui-se que o referido método pode ser auxiliar na investigaçãode estatura, mas deve ser associado a outros métodos para conferir maior credibilidade.

Human identification is a process essential importance for society. Anthropological analysis in dentistryprovides information for an estimate of sex, age, racial group, stature among others. Based on the analysisof certain dental elements can have an individual's height parameter and thereby assist in the investigativeprocess identity. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of Carrea height estimationmethod for individuals residing in the State of Paraná Northwest, considering sex and age. They evaluated180 individuals of both sexes, being in the age group 12-69 years. A stature of each individual wasmeasured by an anthropometer. To estimate the Carrea method, measurements were made on the lowerarch. The results showed that the method Carrea estimated at 91.6% the actual height of the individual.However, some cases there were great differences between maximum and minimum height there was nostatistical association between the efficacy of the method to sex and / or age of the individuals. Based onthese findings, it was finished that the methodology can be assist in stature research, but it must beassociated with other methods to bring greater credibility.

Educational inequality by race in Brazil, 1982-2007: structural changes and shifts in racial classification.

Despite overwhelming improvements in educational levels and opportunity during the past three decades, educational disadvantages associated with race still persist in Brazil. Using the nationally representative Pesquisa Nacional de Amostra por Domicílio (PNAD) data from 1982 and 1987 to 2007, this study investigates educational inequalities between white, pardo (mixed-race), and black Brazilians over the 25-year period. Although the educational advantage of whites persisted during this period, I find that the significance of race as it relates to education changed. By 2007, those identified as blacks and pardos became more similar in their schooling levels, whereas in the past, blacks had greater disadvantages. I test two possible explanations for this shift: structural changes and shifts in racial classification. I find evidence for both. I discuss the findings in light of the recent race-based affirmative action policies being implemented in Brazilian universities.

Effects of altitude on anthropometric and physiological patterns in Aymara and non-Aymara population between 18 and 65 years in the province of Parinacota Chile (3.700 masl) / Efectos de la altura sobre patrones antropométricos y fisiológicos en población Aymará y no Aymará entre 18 y 65 años de la provincia de Parinacota, Chile (3.700 msnm)

The aim of the study was to compare anthropometric and physiological patterns in a sample of 522 Aymara and non-Aymara individuals from Parinacota, Chile (3.700m). After signing voluntary informed consent forms, the residents were separated in two age groups. Groups A: 18 to 35 years, and Group B: 36 to 65 years, by sex and Aymara and non-Aymara ethnicity. The results of this study determined that anthropometric anteroposterior diameter (DAP) are higher in Aymara population. Biacromial diameter (DBA) is significantly lower in the Aymara population. Aymara males between 18 and 35 years are smaller than non-Aymara males. Aymara women had significantly lower heart rates. The respiratory rate is significantly lower in Aymara males and females from 18 to 35 years. Partial oxygen saturation (SaO2) is higher in Aymara women, compared with non-Aymara women. The body mass index (BMI) did not differ within each group according to age, however, in comparison between groups, older individuals independent of sex and ethnicity have index of overweight and obesity. In forced vital capacity (FVC), there is no difference in ages however, while comparing between ages, older populations independent of sex and ethnicity presented significant decreases in this parameter. This may reflect mechanisms of adaptation to the high altitude of Aymara native populations living in the Andes.

El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar patrones antropométricos y fisiológicos en una muestra de 522 individuos aymará y no aymará de la Provincia de Parinacota (3.700 msnm). Luego de la firma del consentimiento informado por los residentes se procedió a separar a los individuos en dos grupos etáreos: población de 18 a 35 años y de 36 a 65 años, según sexo y etnia aymará y no aymará. Los resultados de este estudio determinan que los patrones antropométricos de diámetro antero posterior del tórax son mayores en la población aymará. El diámetro biacromial, es significativamente menor en la población aymará. Los varones aymará de entre 18 a 35 años son de menor tamaño que los varones no aymará. Las mujeres aymará presentan una disminución significativa de la frecuencia cardiaca. La frecuencia respiratoria es significativamente menor en damas y varones aymará de 18 a 35 años. La saturación parcial del oxígeno es mayor en las damas aymará, respecto a mujeres no aymará. El índice de masa corporal no presenta diferencia dentro de cada grupo según edades, pero al comparar entre los grupos, los individuos de mayor edad independiente del sexo y la etnia presentan índice de sobrepeso y obesidad. La capacidad vital forzada, no presenta diferencias dentro de las edades, sin embargo al comparar entre las edades, las poblaciones de mayor edad independiente de la etnia y el sexo presentan disminuciones significativas de este parámetro. Esto posiblemente reflejaría mecanismos de adaptación a la altura de las poblaciones nativas aymará, que viven en los Andes.

Monitoring gender equity in health using gender-sensitive indicators: a cross-national study.

BACKGROUND: As gender is known to be a major determinant of health, monitoring gender equity in health systems remains a vital public health priority. Focusing on a low-income (Peru), middle-income (Colombia), and high-income (Canada) country in the Americas, this study aimed to (1) identify and select gender-sensitive health indicators and (2) assess the feasibility of measuring and comparing gender-sensitive health indicators among countries. METHODS: Gender-sensitive health indicators were selected by a multidisciplinary group of experts from each country. The most recent gender-sensitive health measures corresponding to selected indicators were identified through electronic databases (CINAHL, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Embase, LILACS, LIPECS, Latindex, and BIREME) and expert consultation. Data from population-based studies were analyzed when indicator information was unavailable from reports. RESULTS: Twelve of the 17 selected gender-sensitive health indicators were feasible to measure in at least two countries, and 9 of these were comparable among all countries. Indicators that were available were not stratified or adjusted by age, education, marital status, or wealth. The largest between-country difference was maternal mortality, and the largest gender inequity was mortality from homicides. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that gender inequities in health exist in all countries, regardless of income level. Economic development seemed to confer advantages in the availability of such indicators; however, this finding was not consistent and needs to be further explored. Future initiatives should include identifying health system factors and risk factors associated with disparities as well as assessing the cost-effectiveness of including the routine monitoring of gender inequities in health.

Definition and use of the variable "race" by medical students in Salvador, Brazil.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: The lack of a clear definition for human "race" and the importance of this topic in medical practice continue to create doubt among scholars. Here, we evaluate the use of the variable "race" by medical students in Salvador, Brazil. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study at a Brazilian federal public university. METHODS: 221 randomly selected subjects were included. A semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The results were expressed as means and standard deviations of the mean, proportions and frequencies. The χ2 (chi-square) test was used for the statistical calculations. RESULTS: Approximately half of the students (45.4%) used the racial group variable in their studies on clinical practice. Of these, 86.8% considered it to be relevant information in the medical records and 92.7%, important for diagnostic reasoning; 95.9% believed that it influenced the cause, expression and prevalence of diseases; 94.9% affirmed that it contributed towards estimating the risk of diseases; 80.5% thought that the therapeutic response to medications might be influenced by racial characteristics; 41.9% considered that its inclusion in research was always recommendable; and 20.3% thought it was indispensable. The main phenotypic characteristics used for racial classification were: skin color (93.2%), hair type (45.7%), nose shape (33.9%) and lip thickness (30.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the importance of different racial groups in medical practice, the majority of the professionals do not use or know how to classify them. It is necessary to add to and/or expand the discussion of racial and ethnic categories in medical practice and research.

Definition and use of the variable "race" by medical students in Salvador, Brazil / Definição e utilização da variável "raça" por estudantes de medicina em Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: The lack of a clear definition for human "race" and the importance of this topic in medical practice continue to create doubt among scholars. Here, we evaluate the use of the variable "race" by medical students in Salvador, Brazil. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study at a Brazilian federal public university. METHODS: 221 randomly selected subjects were included. A semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The results were expressed as means and standard deviations of the mean, proportions and frequencies. The χ2 (chi-square) test was used for the statistical calculations. RESULTS: Approximately half of the students (45.4 percent) used the racial group variable in their studies on clinical practice. Of these, 86.8 percent considered it to be relevant information in the medical records and 92.7 percent, important for diagnostic reasoning; 95.9 percent believed that it influenced the cause, expression and prevalence of diseases; 94.9 percent affirmed that it contributed towards estimating the risk of diseases; 80.5 percent thought that the therapeutic response to medications might be influenced by racial characteristics; 41.9 percent considered that its inclusion in research was always recommendable; and 20.3 percent thought it was indispensable. The main phenotypic characteristics used for racial classification were: skin color (93.2 percent), hair type (45.7 percent), nose shape (33.9 percent) and lip thickness (30.3 percent). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the importance of different racial groups in medical practice, the majority of the professionals do not use or know how to classify them. It is necessary to add to and/or expand the discussion of racial and ethnic categories in medical practice and research.

CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: A falta de uma definição clara da raça humana e a importância desse tema na prática médica continua a ser fonte de dúvidas para estudiosos. No presente artigo nós avaliamos o uso da variável raça por estudantes de medicina em Salvador, Brasil. TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL: corte transversal, realizado numa universidade pública federal. MÉTODO: 221 estudantes, , foram incluídos. Um questionário semi-estruturado foi utilizado para a coleta dos dados. Os resultados são expressos como média e desvio-padrão da média, proporções e frequências. O teste do χ2 (qui-quadrado) foi utilizado para o cálculo estatístico. RESULTADOS: Aproximadamente metade dos estudantes (45,4 por cento) usava a variável grupo racial na sua prática clínica em estudos. Desses, 86,8 por cento a consideravam uma informação relevante no prontuário médico; 92,7 por cento no raciocínio diagnóstico; 95,9 por cento acreditavam que ela influenciava a causa, expressão e prevalência das doenças; 94,9 por cento afirmaram que ela contribuía para estimar o risco de doenças; 80,5 por cento informaram que a resposta terapêutica a medicamentos pode ser influenciada pelas características raciais; 41,9 por cento consideravam que sua inclusão nas pesquisas era sempre recomendável; e 20,3 por cento a avaliavam como indispensável. As principais características fenotípicas usadas para a classificação racial foram: cor da pele (93,2 por cento), tipo de cabelo (45,7 por cento), formato do nariz (33,9 por cento) e espessura dos lábios (30,3 por cento). CONCLUSÃO: Apesar de sua importância na prática médica, a maioria dos profissionais não usa e não sabe classificar os diversos grupos raciais. É necessário adicionar e/ou ampliar a discussão sobre as categorias raciais e étnicas no exercício da medicina e nas pesquisas médicas.

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Japanese-Brazilians according to specific definitions for ethnicity.

BACKGROUND: The American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (AHA/NHLBI), revising the National Cholesterol Evaluation Program for Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III), and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) have proposed definitions of metabolic syndrome that take into account waist circumference thresholds according to ethnicity. In this study we estimated the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in a Japanese-Brazilian population using NCEP definitions for Westerners (NCEPwe) and Asians (NCEPas), and IDF for Japanese (IDF). METHODS: A total of 650 Japanese-Brazilians living in a developed Brazilian city and aged 30-88 years were included. RESULTS: Metabolic syndrome prevalence according to NCEPwe, NCEPas, and IDF was, respectively, 46.5%, 56.5%, and 48.3%. Only 43.5% of subjects did not have metabolic syndrome by any of the 3 definitions, and 38.3% fulfilled metabolic syndrome criteria for all 3 definitions. Ten percent of subjects were positive for metabolic syndrome based on NCEPas and IDF, but not for NCEPwe. Because IDF requires abdominal obesity as a criterion, the frequency of subjects without metabolic syndrome according to IDF, but with metabolic syndrome by NCEPwe and NCEPas was 8.2%. CONCLUSIONS: Independent of the metabolic syndrome definition, Japanese-Brazilians present an elevated metabolic syndrome prevalence, which was higher when using NCEP criteria for Asians, followed by the IDF definition for Japanese.

The utility of 'country of birth' for the classification of ethnic groups in health research: the Dutch experience.

The relationship between ethnicity and health is attracting increasing attention in international health research. Different measures are used to operationalise the concept of ethnicity. Presently, self-definition of ethnicity seems to gain favour. In contrast, in the Netherlands, the use of country of birth criteria have been widely accepted as a basis for the identification of ethnic groups. In this paper, we will discuss its advantages as well as its limitations and the solutions to these limitations from the Dutch perspective with a special focus on survey studies. The country of birth indicator has the advantage of being objective and stable, allowing for comparisons over time and between studies. Inclusion of parental country of birth provides an additional advantage for identifying the second-generation ethnic groups. The main criticisms of this indicator seem to refer to its validity. The basis for this criticism is, firstly, the argument that people who are born in the same country might have a different ethnic background. In the Dutch context, this limitation can be addressed by the employment of additional indicators such as geographical origin, language, and self-identified ethnic group. Secondly, the country of birth classification has been criticised for not covering all dimensions of ethnicity, such as culture and ethnic identity. We demonstrate in this paper how this criticism can be addressed by the use of additional indicators. In conclusion, in the Dutch context, country of birth can be considered a useful indicator for ethnicity if complemented with additional indicators to, first, compensate for the drawbacks in certain conditions, and second, shed light on the mechanisms underlying the association between ethnicity and health.

Frecuencia del hueso interparietal o incaico en cráneos atácamenos (Lican antai) prehispánicos del norte de Chile / Frequency of interparietal bone or inca bone in pre-hispanic Atacamenos (Lican Antai) skulls of the north of Chile

El hueso interparietal se considera un hueso intercalar originado de centros independientes de osificación y rodeado por sus propias suturas. Se encontró en fósiles homínidos y humanos tempranos. Se cree que el occipucio sufre transformaciones por mutaciones al iniciarse la evolución humana reforzando esta teoría las variaciones suturales que presenta el occipital. Sería un rasgo genéticamente dominante, propuesta ratificada por estudios experimentales. Se observa con variadas formas según la fusión de los núcleos de osificación, por lo que todos los huesos ubicados en la zona de la escama del occipital no se pueden clasificar como suturales o wormianos y deben considerarse como parte del hueso interparietal. Tratando de confirmar la alta frecuencia obtenida en investigaciones anteriores realizadas en cráneos de individuos originarios del norte de Chile, se analizaron 83 cráneos de atacamenos prehispánicos de ambos sexos, seleccionados al azar entre 293 individuos exhumados del cementerio Coyo-Oriente, datados entre 300-1200 D.C período post-Tiwanaku y que forman parte del Museo R.P. Gustavo Le Paige en San Pedro de Atacama, dependiente del Instituto de Investigaciones Arqueológicas de la Universidad Católica del Norte, que fueron fotografiados en todas sus normas anatómicas y que se midieron paras obtener el índice craneal o cefálico. El hueso interparietal está presente en 23 de 83 cráneos, con una frecuencia de 27,71 por ciento, sin diferencias estadísticas significativas al 95 por ciento con investigaciones realizadas en cráneos de origen étnico similar y en otras etnias que presentan alta frecuencia de hueso interparietal. Por el contrario, se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas al 95 por ciento con frecuencias determinadas en cráneos europeos caucásicos y euroasiáticos. Los autores integraron las tablas clasificatorias de Kadanoff y Hanihara-Ishida, para obtener una tabla modificada que permitiera clasificar ...

The interparietal bone is considered an intercalary bone originated by independent ossification centers and surrounded by its own sutures. It is found in early hominids and human fossils. It is believed that the occipital bone undergoes transformations by mutations at the beginning of human evolution. Reinforcing this theory are the suture variations that presents the occipital bone. It would be a dominant genetic characteristic, proposal ratified by experimental studies. It is observed with varied forms according to the fusion of the ossification nuclei; reason why all the bones located in the zone of the occipital flake cannot be classified as sutures or wormians and must be considered part of the interparietal bone. Trying to confirm the high frequency obtained in previous investigations realized in skulls of original individuals of the north of Chile, we analyzed 83 skulls of pre-Hispanic atácamenos (lican antai) of both sexes, selected at random between 293 individuals of the Coyo-Orient cementery, dated between 300-1200 A.C, post-Tiwanaku period and these remains are part of R.P Gustavo Le Paige's Museum in San Pedro de Atacama, which is part of the Institute of Archaeological Investigations of the North Catholic University. The remains were photographed in all anatomical norms and that were measured to obtain the cranial or cephalic Index. The interparietal bone is present in 23 of 83 skulls, with a frequency of 27.71 percent, without significant statistical differences to 95 percent with investigations realized in skulls of similar ethnic origin and other ethnic groups who present high frequency of interparietal bone. On the contrary, statistically significant differences to 95 percent were found with frequencies determined in caucasian and euroasiatics european skulls. The authors integrated the classificatory tables of Kadanoff and Hanihara-Ishida, to obtain a modified table that allowed to classify all the found variations ...

Los pueblos indígenas y afrodescendientes en las fuentes de datos: experiencias en América Latina / Indigenous peoples and African descendants in the data sources: experiences in Latin America

Los nuevos escenarios sociopolíticos de los países de América Latina se caracterizan por un mayor reconocimiento de la diversidad cultural de los Estados, así como por la constitución de los movimientos indígenas y afrodescendientes como actores sociales y políticos activos, logrando posicionar sus demandas en las agendas nacionales e internacionales. Esto conlleva la necesidad de diseñar políticas públicas tendientes a cerrar las brechas de equidad, en particular en el área de la salud, para lo cual disponer de información confiable, oportuna y pertinente sobre estos grupos es uno de los mayores desafíos que enfrentan los actuales sistemas estadísticos nacionales. En América Latina, los pueblos indígenas y afrodescendientes constituyen grupos étnicos muy heterogéneos, por tanto ¿cómo definir un conjunto de variables con sentido que permitan abarcar con suficiencia estas identidades en los instrumentos de recolección de datos? Para avanzar en su respuesta, en este documento se analizan las implicaciones conceptuales de las preguntas sobre origen étnico en las fuentes de datos. Al analizar las experiencias nacionales y sobre todo la ronda de los censos 2000, se observan diferencias semánticas importantes en la identificación étnica, según la formulación de las preguntas y sus categorías: a veces se alude al concepto de etnia y otras al de raza. Asimismo, los términos hacen referencia a diferentes dimensiones de la definición de grupo étnico e implican distintos grados de exigencias en el compromiso de pertenencia. Si bien el criterio de autoidentificación es el recomendado a nivel internacional, el documento muestra que la operacionalización de este criterio es un asunto complejo y delicado, que requiere de estudios cualitativos previos, de debates y reflexiones, y de la implementación de pruebas pilotos. Su definición sin duda constituye un factor clave en los resultados obtenidos...

Educational selectivity in U.S. immigration: how do immigrants compare to those left behind?

Current immigration research has revealed little about how immigrants compare to those who do not migrate. Although most scholars agree that migrants are not random samples of their home countries' populations, the direction and degree of educational selectivity is not fully understood. This study of 32 U.S. immigrant groups found that although nearly all immigrants are more educated than those who remain in their home countries, immigrants vary substantially in their degree of selectivity, depending upon the origin country and the timing of migration. Uncovering patterns of immigrant selectivity reveals the fallacy in attributing immigrants' characteristics to national groups as a whole and may help explain socioeconomic differences among immigrant groups in the United States.

[Ethnicity/race in the Pró-Saúde Study: comparative results of two methods of self-classification in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil]. / Cor/raça no Estudo Pró-Saúde: resultados comparativos de dois métodos de autoclassificação no Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.

Variations in classification systems related to color/race and the contextual dependence of their utilization are two challenges for researchers conducting health studies within an ethnic/racial framework. A comparison was made between the results obtained by two distinct approaches to racial self-classification -- a closed question (using categories from the IBGE, or National Census Bureau) and an open-ended question -- in a cohort study of employees at a university in Rio de Janeiro. According to the closed question, 54.0% of the 3,717 respondents classified themselves as white, 30.0% as brown (or mixed-race), and 16.0% as black. According to answers to the open-ended question, the proportions were 53.0%, 25.0%, and 22.0%, respectively, when the terms "moreno", "mestiço", and "mulato" were grouped under the "brown" category. Despite the high level of agreement (kappa = 0.80; 95%CI: 0.78-0.82), a sizeable numbers of black and brown respondents (open-ended question) chose "whitening" categories available in the list supplied by the IBGE. The use of ethnic/racial categories in health studies can both reveal information on health inequalities in Brazil and also contribute to the formulation of public health policies adequately informed by the specificities of Brazilian society.

Estimating the stability of census-based racial/ethnic classifications: the case of Brazil.

This study presents a method of estimating the degree to which people change their racial/ethnic identity from one census enumeration to another. The technique is applied to the classification of skin colour in Brazil (white, black, brown, yellow). For the period 1950-80, the findings show a deficit of 38 per cent in the black category and a gain of 34 per cent in the brown category, suggesting that a large proportion of individuals who declared themselves black in 1950 reclassified themselves as brown in 1980. Estimates for 1980-90, adjusted for the effects of international migration, reveal a similar pattern, although the magnitude of colour reclassification may have declined somewhat during the 1980s. Procedures to determine the stability of racial/ethnic identity produce data useful to recent policy initiatives that rely on demographic censuses to measure changes in the status of minority groups in less developed countries.

Determination of ethnicity in children in The Netherlands: two methods compared.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to investigate whether names (surnames and the combination of surnames and first names) are adequate to identify Turkish, Moroccan and Surinamese children in a Dutch population. Parents visiting the Emergency Department of the Sophia Children's Hospital with their child filled in a questionnaire about their ethnic background, socio-economic factors and cultural factors. Patients' names were classified by students with a Turkish, Moroccan and Surinamese (Hindustanic and Creole) background. A combined name-method (surnames in combination with first names) and surnames only were compared with a reference method (ethnicity by parents' country of birth). The validity of both name methods and the measurements of agreement (kappa) of both comparisons were analysed. Turkish names showed good validity measurements between the combined name-method and the reference method (sensitivity of 81% and a positive predictive value of 86%). The Arabic names were distinguishable with a sensitivity of 77%, specificity of 99% and positive predictive value of 87%. Surinamese names were less easy to distinguish from the other names (69, 96 and 69% respectively). Overall, the measurement of agreement showed a kappa of 0.69 in the comparison between the classification of the combined names and the classification by parent's country of birth. The classification of the combined names was slightly better than the classification by surnames only. CONCLUSIONS: Names can be used to identify Turkish and Arabic (Moroccan) children in a routinely registered database of Dutch children. For Surinamese names this method is less suitable.

Tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use: racial and ethnic differences among U.S. high school seniors, 1976-2000.

OBJECTIVE: This study examines differences in adolescents' use of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs by racial and ethnic groups. METHODS: The authors analyzed questionnaire data from large, nationally representative samples of U.S. high school seniors to examine differences in drug use prevalence and trends among racial and ethnic groups between 1976 and 2000. RESULTS: On average, American Indian seniors showed the highest levels of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use. Cuban American and white seniors also tended to have relatively high levels of substance use, followed by Mexican American and Puerto Rican seniors. Other Latin American, African American, and Asian American seniors reported the lowest levels of drug use. Most of these differences are longstanding, but some have widened and others narrowed during the past 25 years. CONCLUSION: Significant differences exist in adolescent use of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs by racial and ethnic groups, and these differences have changed over time. Future research should examine these differences and seek to identify the sources and consequences of the disparities.

Impactos ambientales generadores de biodiversidad: conductas ecológicas de los hotï de la sierra Maigualida, Amazonas Venezolano / Environmental impacts generating biodiversity: ecological behaviors of the hotï of the Maigualida mountain rance, Venezuelan Amazon

La hipótesis de que vastas porciones del Amazonas son de origen antropogénico y no ecosistemas prístinos ha ganado adeptos recientemente, aunque existen pocos casos de estudio que la sustenten. Este trabajo explora empíricamente esta hipótesis centrándose en aspectos controversiales acerca de la contribución de los forrajeros humanos en la modificación substancial del paisaje. Se documentan las conductas de alteración ecológica de los Hotï de la Sierra Maigualida, Amazonas venezolano, quienes tradicionalmente han ocupado la región selvática interfluvial. Los Hotï son indígenas fundamentalmente forrajeros, practicantes de recolección, caza, pesca, y en menor grado agricultura incipiente, están poco aculturados y han sido contactados recientemente. Se describen cinco de sus conductas alteradoras: cosecha y dispersión de frutos arbóreos, explotación y manipulación de palmas, manejo de gusanos de seje, cultivo de claros naturales y extracción de miel. Un análisis de estas alteraciones, y en virtud de los largos períodos de ocupación que los Hotï han ocupado esta región, permite inferir que sus conductas han tenido un impacto considerable en la composición, diversidad y estructura de los bosques de Maigualida. Tales conclusiones tienen implicaciones en los planes de conservación biológica al mostrar que las actividades de subsistencia de los indígenas forrajeros contribuyen a la creación y mantenimiento dinámico de la diversidad en los ecosistemas amazónicos

Diagnóstico de la situación de los pueblos indigenas y comunidades etnicas e instalación de la procuraduría especial / Diagnostic of the situation of indigenous towns and ethnic communities and installation of the special attorneyïs office

El presente documento es una investigacion que aborda el diagnóstico de la situación de las comunidades étnicas y pueblos indigenas, en lo que se refiere al cumplimiento de sus derechos humanos y la díficil situación que viven en el pías los pobladores del Caribe y los pueblos indigenas, por lo que el documento ofrece un aporte del conocimiento de la realidad, y así contribuir en la búsqueda de respuesta del problema en que viven nuestros pueblos indigenas y comunidades étnicas