Ancient and modern genomics of the Ohlone Indigenous population of California.

SignificanceCalifornia supports a high cultural and linguistic diversity of Indigenous peoples. In a partnership of researchers with the Muwekma Ohlone tribe, we studied genomes of eight present-day tribal members and 12 ancient individuals from two archaeological sites in the San Francisco Bay Area, spanning ∼2,000 y. We find that compared to genomes of Indigenous individuals from throughout the Americas, the 12 ancient individuals are most genetically similar to ancient individuals from Southern California, and that despite spanning a large time period, they share distinctive ancestry. This ancestry is also shared with present-day tribal members, providing evidence of genetic continuity between past and present Indigenous individuals in the region, in contrast to some popular reconstructions based on archaeological and linguistic information.

Indigenous maternal and infant outcomes and women's experiences of midwifery care: A mixed-methods systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The impact of midwifery, and especially Indigenous midwifery, care for Indigenous women and communities has not been comprehensively reviewed. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a mixed-methods systematic review to understand Indigenous maternal and infant outcomes and women's' experiences with midwifery care. METHODS: We searched nine databases to identify primary studies reporting on midwifery and Indigenous maternal and infant birth outcomes and experiences, published in English since 2000. We synthesized quantitative and qualitative outcome data using a convergent segregated mixed-methods approach and used a mixed-methods appraisal tool (MMAT) to assess the methodological quality of included studies. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Quality Appraisal Tool (ATSI QAT) was used to appraise the inclusion of Indigenous perspectives in the evidence. RESULTS: Out of 3044 records, we included 35 individual studies with 55% (19 studies) reporting on maternal and infant health outcomes. Comparative studies (n = 13) showed no significant differences in mortality rates but identified reduced preterm births, earlier prenatal care, and an increased number of prenatal visits for Indigenous women receiving midwifery care. Quality of care studies indicated a preference for midwifery care among Indigenous women. Sixteen qualitative studies highlighted three key findings - culturally safe care, holistic care, and improved access to care. The majority of studies were of high methodological quality (91% met ≥80% criteria), while only 14% of studies were considered to have appropriately included Indigenous perspectives. CONCLUSION: This review demonstrates the value of midwifery care for Indigenous women, providing evidence to support policy recommendations promoting midwifery care as a physically and culturally safe model for Indigenous women and families.

Phenotypes of inflammatory bowel disease in the Maori population of New Zealand.

BACKGROUND: Maori have historically seen a lower rate of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) compared to New Zealand's non-Maori population. Recent reports have shown an increasing rate of IBD among Maori patients. AIM: We performed a study to identify the phenotypes of IBD in the Maori population. METHODS: Patients with IBD of Maori ethnicity were retrospectively identified from four large regions of New Zealand. Electronic records were reviewed to collect details of patients' demographics, phenotypes and clinical features. RESULTS: We identified 165 Maori patients with IBD, of whom 74 (45.4%) had Crohn disease (CD), 86 (53.5%) had ulcerative colitis (UC) and 5 (3.0%) had IBD-unclassified (IBD-U). There were more female (61.8%) patients compared to male (38.2%). This was attributed to the higher ratio of female patients with CD over male (73.9% vs 26.1%), whereas sex was evenly distributed in UC (female 52.2%, male 48.8%). Ileocolonic CD was most frequently seen (36.2%), and the majority had non-stricturing disease (62.3%) with the absence of perianal involvement (78.2%). Bimodal age peaks were observed, with a first peak at 25-29 years and a second peak at 45-49 years. There was a five-fold increase in the incidence of IBD in Maori over 20 years. CONCLUSIONS: We present the largest study describing IBD in Maori. IBD phenotypes in Maori were similar to previous regional IBD reports, but there was a significantly higher proportion of female patients with CD in Maori and an earlier second age peak at 45-49 years. Increasing incidence of IBD in Maori has again been demonstrated.

Experiences of a group of indigenous women from the Colombian Amazon with cervical cancer prevention screening. Qualitative study in the context of participatory research to reduce inequalities.

OBJECTIVES: Despite cervical cancer (CC) being a preventable disease, its incidence remains high in marginalized communities due to inequalities that restrict access to health services. This article investigates the experiences, perceptions, and attitudes regarding the screening of indigenous women in a region of the Colombian Amazon during a cervical cancer prevention initiative facilitated by community participation. DESIGN: Qualitative study based on interviews conducted with women and indigenous leaders from Paujil reserve. They participated in research focused on cervical cancer prevention, which employed a methodology of collaboration between academia and communities aimed at enhancing women's health and reducing inequalities in access to healthcare services. The analysis utilized a deductive and inductive approach. RESULTS: Five main themes were addressed: 'Barriers within health services'; 'Individual and cultural constraints'; 'Motivations and facilitators'; 'Positive experiences within the research framework'; and 'Suggestions for encouraging women's participation.' Challenges related to appointment scheduling and result delivery were frequently cited as obstacles to access. Misinformation, feelings of shame, fear, and distrust towards health services played significant roles in the reluctance to undergo screening. Factors such as support from family and community networks, respectful treatment, ease of scheduling appointments, the presence of female healthcare professionals, and involvement of leaders fluent in indigenous languages were identified as positive facilitators of screening acceptance. CONCLUSION: Understanding the factors that influence access to screening is crucial for reducing inequalities in service delivery for indigenous women. The involvement of trained leaders who can identify these factors and motivate women can have a positive impact on the acceptance and guidance of cervical cancer prevention programs.

The Prevalence of HIV Infection in Minority Indigenous Populations of the South-East Asia and Western Pacific Regions: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

A random effects meta-analysis was used to estimate the pooled prevalence of HIV infection within minority indigenous populations of the South-East Asia (SEAR) and Western Pacific Regions (WPR). Sub-group analyses were conducted, and the sources of heterogeneity explored through meta-regression. The majority of studies were undertaken in high HIV risk subpopulations. There was a paucity of data for many countries with data from China representing 70% of the comparative studies. Within minority indigenous populations the pooled prevalence of HIV infection was 13.7% (95% CI 8.9, 19) and 8.4% (95% CI 6.3, 10.7) among other populations. The prevalence differential between populations was significant in the WPR (adjusted odds ratio 1.1, 95% CI 1.0, 1.2). Across both regions, in contrast to other populations, minority indigenous did not experience any significant reduction in HIV prevalence over the years of data collection. There was large heterogeneity in the prevalence of HIV across studies.

Maternal and congenital syphilis in Indigenous Peoples: a scoping review of the worldwide literature.

BACKGROUND: Syphilis is among the most common sexually transmitted infections worldwide. When it occurs during pregnancy, it can seriously affect the fetus and newborn`s health. The scarcity of studies on maternal and congenital syphilis in Indigenous Peoples remains an obstacle to its control in these populations. This study aimed to explore the breadth of the literature, map updated evidence, and identify knowledge gaps on maternal and congenital syphilis in Indigenous Peoples worldwide. METHODS: We conducted a Scoping review following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses - Extension for Scoping Reviews. In March 2021, we collected data through a priority search on PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and SciELO. RESULTS: The strategy yielded 24 studies for analysis. Data in the articles were collected from 1989 to 2020, half from 2015 onwards. Studies were in Oceania and the Americas, mainly in South America (66.7%), particularly in Brazil (50.0%). The topics assessed were Data quality related to maternal and congenital syphilis (20.8%); Diagnosis, provision, access, and use of health services (62.5%); Disease frequency and health inequities (54.2%); Determinants of maternal syphilis and congenital syphilis (20.8%); and Outcomes of maternal and congenital syphilis in the fetus (20.8%). The results show that the available literature on maternal and congenital syphilis is sparse and concentrated in some geographic areas; the frequency of these diseases in Indigenous Peoples varies but is generally higher than in the non-indigenous counterparts; the quality of surveillance data and health information systems is poor; multiple healthcare barriers exist; and the diversity of terms to identify Indigenous Peoples is a challenge to mapping scientific outputs on Indigenous Peoples' health. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal and congenital syphilis in Indigenous Peoples is a double-neglected condition and research in this area should be given the priority and encouragement it deserves globally. Reliable data and improving access to health care are needed to reduce the burden of syphilis and correctly inform policies and health services response to mitigate ethnic-racial inequalities in maternal and congenital syphilis.

Food profile of Yanomami indigenous children aged 6 to 59 months from the Brazilian Amazon, according to the degree of food processing: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed to characterise the food profile of Yanomami indigenous children according to the degree of food processing and its associated factors. DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional study with Yanomami indigenous children aged 6 to 59 months. Socio-demographic, maternal and infant data were collected through a standardised questionnaire. The food profile was obtained by using a list of thirty-four foods to verify the child's consumption of these foods on the day preceding the interview. Foods were classified according to the degree of processing based on the NOVA system (in natura or minimally processed, processed culinary ingredients, processed and ultra-processed). In natura and minimally processed foods were subdivided into 'regional' and 'urban' foods. Poisson regression analysis was applied to estimate the associated factors according to the 90 % CI. SETTING: Three villages (Auaris, Maturacá and Ariabú) in the Yanomami indigenous territory, in the Brazilian Amazon. PARTICIPANTS: In total, 251 Yanomami children aged 6 to 59 months were evaluated. RESULTS: The prevalence of consumption of 'regional' and 'urban' in natura or minimally processed foods was 93 % and 56 %, respectively, and consumption of ultra-processed foods was 32 %. Ultra-processed food consumption was 11·6 times higher in children of Maturacá and 9·2 times higher in Ariabú when compared with the children of Auaris and 31 % lower in children who had mothers with shorter stature. CONCLUSION: Despite the high frequency of consumption of in natura and minimally processed foods, the consumption of ultra-processed foods was substantial and was associated with demographic and maternal factors in Yanomani indigenous children under 5 years of age.

Prevalence of diabetes mellitus in Indian tribal population: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM), a significant public health problem across the nations, is among the top ten leading causes of death. More than 370 million indigenous people (referred to as tribal people in India) are spread across 90 countries. India has the largest tribal people of 104 million. Tribal populations are not exceptional to the threat of type 2 DM (T2DM) and other non-communicable diseases, and hence, public health programmes are addressing this problem. This paper reports the systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature on the prevalence of T2DM. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature to understand the prevalence of T2DM among the tribal populations of India, following the guidelines of the PRISMA Statement for Reporting Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis. The gender-wise prevalence was recalculated by extracting the data wherever possible. Forest plots were depicted based on the prevalence, and other analyses were performed. RESULTS: On initial searches from three databases, 5422 citations were identified, and ultimately 27 studies were included in the review. These studies were undertaken amongst different tribes in different parts of India. The pooled prevalence of T2DM among men, women and combined were 6.04% (95% confidence interval (CI): 5.55% to 6.57%), 6.48% (95% CI: 6.01% to 6.99%) and 4.94% (95% CI: 4.72% to 5.17%), respectively. Considerable heterogeneity was found among these studies. CONCLUSION: This systematic review provides an overview of the prevalence of T2DM among the Indian tribal population. The pooled overall prevalence is slightly lower than the general population. This situation is worrisome as the epidemic of T2DM will affect the poor tribal communities, who can least afford to bear the health care costs. Hence, the public health care services must be strengthened in all tribal areas. This review further warrants establishing surveillance of T2DM in tribal areas.

The burden of atopic dermatitis and bacterial skin infections among urban-living Indigenous children and young people in high-income countries: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: A high burden of bacterial skin infections (BSI) is well documented in remote-living Indigenous children and young people (CYP) in high-income countries (HIC). Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common chronic inflammatory skin condition seen in CYP and predisposes to BSI. Despite the rate of urbanization for Indigenous people increasing globally, research is lacking on the burden of AD and BSI for urban-living Indigenous CYP in HIC. Indigenous people in HIC share a history of colonization, displacement and subsequent ongoing negative impacts on health. OBJECTIVE: To provide a global background on the burden of AD and BSI in urban-living Indigenous CYP in HIC. METHODS: A systematic review of primary observational studies on AD and BSI in English containing epidemiologic data was performed. MEDLINE, EMBASE, EMCARE, Web of Science, and PubMed databases were searched for articles between January 1990 and December 2021. RESULTS: From 2278 original manuscripts, 16 were included: seven manuscripts documenting eight studies on AD; and nine manuscripts documenting nine studies on BSI. Current and severe symptoms of AD were more common in urban-living Indigenous CYP in HIC compared with their non-Indigenous peers, with children having a higher prevalence than adolescents. Urban-living Indigenous CYP in HIC had a higher incidence of all measures of BSI compared with their non-Indigenous peers, and were over-represented for all measures of BSI compared with their proportion of the background population. Limitations include incomplete representation of all Indigenous populations in HIC. CONCLUSION: A significant burden of AD and BSI exists in urban-living Indigenous CYP in HIC.

Exploring ambivalence toward pregnancy among young Inuit women.

Ambivalence toward pregnancy is an important predictor of early pregnancy as documented in diverse Western societies. Inuit women from Nunavik, a northern region of Quebec, Canada, experience a high rate of early pregnancy, yet no study has explored their attitudes toward pregnancy. Grounded in a participatory approach, this study aimed to explore ambivalence toward pregnancy, among other pregnancy-related attitudes, and identify themes underlying ambivalence among young Inuit women from Nunavik. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 women aged 16 to 20 years, who became pregnant during the year preceding the interview. We used an inductive approach to analyse the data. Eleven participants were identified as ambivalent toward pregnancy while three were characterised as having a favourable attitude, and one as unfavourable. Four themes related to ambivalence were identified: the value of childbearing/motherhood; the use of contraceptives; the likelihood of becoming pregnant; and the ideal age to become pregnant. A better understanding of young women's attitudes toward pregnancy could contribute to the development of culturally relevant programmes to more effectively support adolescents, pregnant adolescents and young mothers, and to lead to better care.

Social determinants of health for moderate and severe periodontal disease in rural and urban populations.

OBJECTIVE: We assessed the prevalence of moderate and severe periodontitis and its association with social determinants of health in rural and urban population from the State of Chiapas, in Southern Mexico. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional population-based study was conducted in 2013 comprising people 20 years and older. The determinants were categorized as proximal (age, sex, indigenous origin, diabetes, smoking, diet), intermediate (level of schooling, occupation, medical and dental care), and structural (type of institution of health care provision, residence area). Periodontal status was assessed using the Periodontal Screening and Recording (PSR) Index. RESULTS: In total, 467 persons (72.4% women; mean age 43.0 years [s.d 14.7]) participated. Of them, 76.5% lived in rural areas and 56.7% were of indigenous origin. Participants with moderate and severe periodontitis had a significantly lower toothbrushing frequency (44.1% and 44.8%, respectively), and poorer oral hygiene (90% and 90.3%, respectively) compared with people without periodontitis (29.4% for toothbrushing frequency and 74.5% for oral hygiene). Moderate periodontitis was associated with poor oral hygiene (OR=2.63) and no schooling (OR=1.86). Severe periodontitis was associated with age (OR=1.05), poor oral hygiene (OR=3.99), no schooling (OR=2.08), and the interaction term of rural area and indigenous origin (RM=5.23). CONCLUSIONS: Social determinants of health play an important role in the development of periodontitis. Preventive oral health programs should thus focus on the specific social, economic, and geographical context of the population.

Yarning about river safety: A qualitative study exploring water safety beliefs and practices for First Nations People.

ISSUE ADDRESSED: Water is vital to Australian First Nations Peoples' connection to country and culture. Despite this cultural significance, and epidemiological studies identifying elevated drowning risk among Australian First Nations Peoples, extremely limited qualitative research explores water safety beliefs and practices of First Nations Peoples. This study addressed this knowledge gap via qualitative research with Wiradjuri people living in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. METHODS: Under Aboriginal Reference Group guidance, a local researcher recruited participants using purposive sampling for yarning circles across four groups: young people aged 18-30 years, parents of children under 5, parents of older children and adolescents and Elders. Yarning circles were audio recorded, transcribed and thematically coded using an inductive approach. RESULTS: In total, 10 First Nations individuals participated. Yarning led to rich insights and yielded five themes: families as first educators; importance of storytelling, lived experience and respect for knowledge holders; the river as a place of connection; historical influence on preference for river over pool and river is unpredictable and needs to be respected. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the importance of First Nations culture to water safety practices, particularly around the river. To reduce drowning risk among First Nations populations, knowledge holders need to be embedded in the design and delivery of community water safety education. SO WHAT?: Co-designing water safety initiatives with First Nations Peoples will have dual benefits; developing culturally appropriate and locally relevant water safety education, while also continuing First Nations culture across generations.

Identifying access barriers faced by rural and dispersed communities to better address their needs: implications and lessons learned for rural proofing for health in the Americas and beyond.

INTRODUCTION: Universal access to health services and universal health coverage are needed to achieve good health for all, yet rural communities face a variety of access barriers. As part of an effort to 'rural proof' health systems, it is therefore imperative to identify and act on the factors limiting access to health services by rural and indigenous communities. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the wide range of access barriers faced by rural and remote communities in two countries where barrier assessments were conducted. It also discusses the potential for barrier assessments to contribute evidence for rural proofing of national health policies, strategies, plans and programs. METHODS: The study applied a concurrent triangulation design to collect and analyze data obtained from narrative-style literature reviews, in-depth interviews with local health authorities, and secondary analyses of existing household data on Guyana and Peru. These two countries were selected because they have some of the largest rural and indigenous populations in Latin America and the Caribbean, and have national policies in place for providing free, essential health services for these communities. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected separately, and results were interpreted together. The main objective was to corroborate and cross-validate findings looking for convergence between the separate data analyses. RESULTS: Seven dominant themes were identified across the two countries: use of traditional medicine and practice; decision making, gender, and family power dynamics; ethnicity and trust; knowledge and health literacy; geographic accessibility, health personnel and intercultural skills; and financial accessibility. The findings suggest that the interaction between these barriers may be as important as the singular role played by each factor, thereby highlighting the complex and multifactorial nature of accessing services in rural settings. Issues with limited availability of human resources for health were compounded by inadequate supplies and infrastructure. Financial barriers were often linked to the indirect costs of transport and geographic location, and further exacerbated by reduced socioeconomic status of rural communities, a majority of which are indigenous and have a strong preference for traditional medicines. Importantly, rural and indigenous communities experience considerable non-financial barriers related to issues of acceptability, which requires adaptation of health personnel and health service delivery models to the context-specific needs and realities of each rural community. CONCLUSION: This study presented an approach for data collection and analysis that is both feasible and effective for evaluating access barriers in rural and remote communities. While this study explored access barriers through general health services in two rural settings, the issues identified reflect the structural deficiencies of many health systems. These challenges and singularities require adaptive organizational models for the provision of health services that respond to the specific characteristics of rural and indigenous communities. This study indicates the potential relevance of conducting assessments of barriers to health services as part of a wider approach to rural proofing and supports the notion that a mixed-methods approach, linking secondary analysis of existing relevant national survey data with focused key-informant interview data, may be an effective and efficient way to transform data into the knowledge policymakers need to rural proof health policies.

Symptoms of psychological distress reported by women from indigenous communities in South India: implications for methodology and future studies.

'Indigenous peoples' across the globe suffer a disproportionate burden of mental illness. However, this burden is not fully explored in India despite having the second largest absolute concentration of indigenous peoples in the world. We did a secondary analysis of data from a cross-sectional survey in indigenous populations from the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in South India. Symptoms suggestive of psychological distress were reported by 39.9% participants. Being alone, tobacco use, hypertension, hypertension in family member, and violent conflict in household were independently associated with psychological distress. More epidemiological studies need to be conducted to map the burden and elaborate the relationships between mental health problems and socio-cultural factors in indigenous populations in India.

Indicators for adequate diabetes care for the indigenous communities of Ecuador.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes is the second leading cause of death in Ecuador, as 79% of the indigenous population live in rural areas that are difficult to access and have below-average health resources. The objective of this study was to define person-centred indicators to monitor the care received by patients with diabetes in the indigenous population. METHOD: Qualitative research combining three focus groups (with the participation of 10 patients and 18 professionals) to capture relevant information and Delphi to reach a consensus on the pertinence, relevance, and feasibility of a set of indicators was conducted. Two rounds of the Delphi technique were performed, with the participation of 64 professionals in the first round (90% response rate) and 34 in the second round (53% response rate). RESULTS: A total of 23 indicators were identified which were distributed in the previously identified six dimensions (cosmovision, accessibility, adaptability to cosmovision, resources, equipment, community care, quality culture and results). CONCLUSIONS: The consensus on the set of indicators among all the participants in this study strengthened the results obtained. These indicators have considered the feasibility and relevance and aimed to achieve comprehensive person-centred care for diabetes among the indigenous population in Ecuador and possibly the Andean community. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: These indicators' development included patients and caregivers since its conception. During the qualitative phase of this research, relevant information on cultural and social beliefs was gathered directly from the study population to achieve patient-centred indicators for adequate diabetes care.

Indigenous population and major depressive disorder in later life: a study based on the data from Longitudinal Ageing Study in India.

BACKGROUND: Existing evidence suggests that the indigenous older population who live with their families and friends might experience lesser depressive symptoms due to better emotional support and well-being. The present study aimed to investigate the differentials in the prevalence of the major depressive disorder among tribal and non-tribal older populations in India and to explore the contribution of socio-demographic, health-related, and household factors in such disparities. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (2017-18). The analytical sample included 30,637 older adults, among whom 5,025 and 25,612 belonged to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) and non-Scheduled Tribe (non-ST) social groups, respectively. Major depressive disorder assessed by the Composite International Diagnostic Interview short-form (CIDI-SF) scale was the outcome variable. Descriptive statistics, bivariate and multivariable regression and, decomposition analyses were conducted. RESULTS: About 4.8% and 8.9% of older adults from the ST and non-ST social groups had major depression. For both tribal and non-tribal groups, older adults who were unmarried, dissatisfied with living arrangements, and those who faced lifetime discrimination were at increased risk of major depression. Findings from differences due to characteristics (E) revealed that if the regional differences were minimized, it would decrease the ST-non-ST gap in major depression by about 19.6%. Similarly, equal self-rated health status and chronic conditions among ST and non-ST groups would decrease the gap in major depression by almost 9.6% and 7.9%, respectively. Additionally, an equal status of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) and Activities of Daily Living (ADL) among older adults would decrease the gap in major depression by about 3.8% and 3% respectively. Also, findings from differences due to coefficients (C) revealed that if older adults from the ST group had the same status of ADL as of older adults from the non-ST group, it would decrease the gap in major depression by about 11.8%. CONCLUSION: The findings revealed a greater prevalence of major depression in older adults belonging to the non-ST group than the ST group. For both tribal and non-tribal groups, older adults who were unmarried, dissatisfied with living arrangements, and those who faced lifetime discrimination were at increased risk of major depression and these factors along with health-related variables contributed to significant ST-non-ST gap in depression, advantageous to tribal population; suggesting further research on the coping mechanisms of mental illnesses among indigenous population in India.

Growth management and prevalence of underweight of indigenous children (Orang Asli) in Peninsular Malaysia: a clinical audit.

BACKGROUND: Most indigenous people (Orang Asli in Peninsular Malaysia) live in poverty, and their children are at risk of growth problems due to nutrition deficiency. Routine health and growth assessments are essential to identify these children. This clinical audit aimed to determine the growth management of indigenous children and the prevalence of underweight among these children in Perak state, Malaysia. METHODS: A clinical audit was conducted in 2016 after obtaining consensus from stakeholders for audit criteria, forms, and procedures. All weight-for-age growth charts of Orang Asli children aged 2 and below were sampled for retrospective audit. This audit excluded children who required special needs. Growth charts were examined against audit criteria: (i) quality of growth chart plotting (charts were not plotted, incompletely plotted, or incorrectly plotted), (ii) presence of underweight, and (iii) appropriateness of action taken (appropriate or inappropriate action) according to local standard operating policies. Eligible auditors were first trained using simulated growth charts. RESULTS: Out of 1329 growth charts audited, 797 (60%) growth charts were correctly plotted, 527 (39.7%) were incompletely or incorrectly plotted, and five (0.3%) were not plotted. Overall, 40.0% of the growth chart was plotted incorrectly or completely not plotted. 550 (41.4%) children were found to be underweight, and 71.5% of them received inappropriate care management. Where growth charts were correctly plotted, 283 children were identified with underweight problems, and 194 (68.6%) of them received inappropriate care. For growth charts that were plotted incompletely or incorrectly, 267 children were identified as having underweight problems, and 199 (74.5%) received inappropriate care. The growth status of 265 (19.9%) children was unable to be determined due to incomplete plotting. CONCLUSION: Approximately 40% of indigenous Orang Asli children aged 2 years and under were underweight, and most of them received inappropriate care.

Cancer incidence in indigenous populations of Western Amazon, Brazil.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to estimate a population-based cancer incidence among indigenous populations in the State of Acre, Brazilian Western Amazon, to provide knowledge about cancer epidemiological profiles contributing to healthcare policies and service planning. Although cancer epidemiology in Brazil is well described through incidence and mortality estimate in the general population, cancer estimates among indigenous peoples are still unknown. DESIGN: This is a descriptive study of cancer incidence among the indigenous population (2000-2012) in the State of Acre, Brazil. The sources used were population-based cancer registries of Goiânia, hospital-based cancer registry of Acre, São Paulo, and Porto Velho; Special Indigenous Health Districts databases of Acre, Goiânia, and São Paulo; Mortality Information System, and Rio Branco's public and private laboratories' reports. Standardized Incidence Ratio (SIR) was calculated using cancer incidence rates of Goiânia as reference. RESULTS: From 137 cancer cases, 51.8% occurred in women and 32.1% in people aged 70 + . Among men, the most frequent cancer sites were stomach (25.8%), liver (15.1%), colorectal (7.6%), leukemia (7.6%), and prostate (6.1%). Among women, the most frequent were cervical (50.7%), stomach (8.5%), leukemia (5.6%), liver (4.3%), and breast (4.3%). Among men, there was an excess of cancer cases for stomach (SIR=1.75; 95%CI:1.67-1.83), liver (SIR=1.77; 95%CI:1.66-1.88), and leukemia (SIR=1.64; 95%CI:1.49-1.78). In women, an excess of cancer cases was observed for cervical (SIR=4.49; 95%CI:4.34-4.64) and liver (SIR=2.11; 95%CI:1.88-2.34). A lower cancer incidence for prostate (SIR=0.06; 95%CI:0.05-0.07) and female breast (SIR=0.12; 95%CI:0.11-0.14) was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Cervical, stomach, and liver cancers corresponded to 52% of the cases and were highly incident among the Brazilian indigenous population of Western Amazon compared to non-indigenous counterparts. Despite the low frequency of breast and prostate cancer, the fact they were present among indigenous peoples suggests a complex epidemiological transition framework in these populations.

[Hepatitis B in indigenous people in Latin America: a literature reviewHepatite B em indígenas na América Latina: revisão da literatura]. / Hepatitis B en indígenas de América Latina: una revisión de la literatura.

Objective: Identify publications from 2000 to 2020 on hepatitis B in indigenous people in Latin America, to learn about advances and gaps in this field in the last 20 years. Methods: Exploratory review and systematic evidence review. Documents were organized using Excel and Rayyan® software. Results: We selected 30 of 107 articles found: 17 epidemiological studies, 10 document reviews, 2 clinical studies, and 1 letter to the editor. Brazil was the country with the most publications (50%), most of them with an epidemiological approach. The topic most often addressed was hepatitis B prevalence with 22 publications, followed by 11 studies reporting results of molecular studies of the virus, 7 studies on vaccination, 5 studies on risk factors, and 4 publications with topics such as vertical transmission and studies of social issues. Conclusion: Compared to previous reviews by other authors, we saw greater diversity in topics and research methods; however, conventional epidemiological approaches that focus on measuring prevalence of serological markers still predominate. Thus, there is a need for other types of research focused on sociocultural determinants.

Objetivo: Identificar artigos publicados entre 2000 e 2020 sobre hepatite B em indígenas da América Latina, visando a conhecer as conquistas obtidas nos últimos 20 anos e as lacunas existentes com relação a esta doença. Métodos: Foi realizada uma revisão exploratória da literatura com síntese das evidências. O material obtido foi organizado com o uso de Excel® e Rayyan®. Resultados: De 107 artigos encontrados, 30 foram selecionados ­ 17 estudos epidemiológicos, 10 revisões documentais, 2 estudos clínicos e 1 carta ao editor. O Brasil foi o país com o maior percentual de artigos publicados (50%), na sua maioria estudos com enfoque epidemiológico. As áreas temáticas abordadas foram a prevalência de infecção pelo vírus da hepatite B (22 artigos), estudos moleculares do vírus da hepatite (11 estudos), vacinação (7), fatores de risco (5), e temas como transmissão materno-fetal e aspectos sociais (4). Conclusões: Comparado aos estudos de revisão anteriores conduzidos por outros autores, o presente estudo demonstra uma maior variedade de áreas temáticas e metodologias empregadas. No entanto, ainda predominam enfoques epidemiológicos convencionais com foco na avaliação da prevalência de marcadores sorológicos. São necessárias outras linhas de pesquisas enfocando os determinantes socioculturais.

Prioritising a culturally safe e-Mental Health research agenda in Aotearoa New Zealand: A sector survey report.

OBJECTIVE: To collect mental health and addiction service providers' opinions about priorities for an e-Mental Health (eMH) research agenda focused on delivering culturally safe eMH in Aotearoa New Zealand. METHOD: Service providers were recruited to participate in an anonymous online survey, which asked participants to rate the importance of potential research domains and items on a continuous scale from 1 to 10. The mean values of each item were normalised to develop a priority index. RESULTS: 48 participants rated at least one of the listed research items. The highest-rated items were (i) identifying strategies to improve access; co-developing eMH with the community (ii) a set of competencies required for delivering culturally safe care, (iii) a set of meaningful clinical outcomes that can be achieved via eMH, (iv) guidelines for the delivery of eMH services and (v) investigating the extent to which eMH could meet the mental health needs of these communities. 'Standards and guidelines' was the domain with the highest priority index. CONCLUSIONS: Mental health and addiction service providers in Aotearoa New Zealand prioritised an eMH research agenda that is focused on pro-equity outcomes and incorporating the voices and experiences of the communities they seek to serve.