Representations and care practices of professionals regarding indigenous use of alcohol

Eating habits, anthropometry, lifestyle, and hypertension of a group of non-village indigenous women in Amazon, Brazil

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to describe the anthropometric characteristics, eating habits, and lifestyle of non-village indigenous women living in Manaus, AM, and their association with hypertension.

METHODS

This cross-sectional (descriptive-analytical) study was carried out from January 2020 to December 2021 using a questionnaire for clinical, sociodemographic, and behavioral data. Non-pregnant women who belonged to Parque das Tribos for more than a year, declared themselves indigenous, and were over 18 years of age were included in the study.

RESULTS

In total, 21 ethnicities were identified, and 95 indigenous women were evaluated. The average age group was 36±12.1 years, the average height was 157 cm, and the body mass index was 28.8 kg/m2. The prevalence of systemic arterial hypertension was ±40%, and 68.5% had excess weight, with 29.1% having class I obesity. In all, 35.8% consumed a lot of salt, sugar, and industrialized foods, and 88.4% were sedentary.

CONCLUSION

Much of the sample presented excess weight, and almost all were sedentary. More than one-third had unappropriated eating habits. Hypertension was present in more than one-third of these indigenous women. There was an association between higher body mass index and hypertension. Knowing the characteristics of this group of non-village indigenous women may help determine the best health approach. The data demonstrate the necessity of preventive measures.

Alcohol use patterns and associated variables among the Karipuna indigenous people in the extreme Northern Brazilian Amazon

The objective of this study was to identify the prevalence and patterns of alcohol consumption and associated factors in the Karipuna indigenous people. A cross-sectional population-based study was conducted with 230 Karipunan respondents aged 15 or over from 12 villages in the state of Amapá, in the extreme northern Brazilian Amazon. The participants completed the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). The prevalence of alcohol use among the Karipuna was 70%. Of these, 59.6% had low-risk use, 38.3% had hazardous or harmful alcohol use, and 2.2% met criteria for probable alcohol dependence. Overall, 40.5% of the respondents had hazardous or harmful alcohol use; 66.6% were men, and 33.4% were women. In the regression analysis, age, sex, religion, not having an occupation, being a student, low educational attainment, suicidal ideation and having sexual intercourse after alcohol consumption were associated with hazardous or harmful alcohol use. Sex and Catholic religion were risk factors for this alcohol use pattern among the Karipuna. The prevalence of problematic alcohol use among the Karipuna is higher than that observed among the general Brazilian population, and preventive screenings should be widely implemented. Efforts to address and minimize the consequences of harmful and hazardous alcohol use among Brazilian Amazonian indigenous populations could be developed.