Avoiding extinction: the importance of protecting isolated Indigenous tribes

Ortíz-Prado, Esteban; Cevallos-Sierra, Gabriel; Vásconez, Eduardo; Lister, Alex; Ramos, Eduardo Pichilingue

doi:10.1177/1177180121995567

Cited by 7 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…In the country however, as well as in other parts of the Amazon rainforest there are indigenous populations living in voluntary isolation that drink water directly from the rivers ( 45 , 46 ). Those groups could be affected by the poor quality of the water that might arrive through the tributary streams, thus, the importance of WBD is fundamental not only to reduce the prevalence of water-related infectious diseases but also to prevent the potential extermination of indigenous groups living in voluntary isolation ( 47 ). The information provided in this investigation seeks to set a precedent and serve as an input to generate public policy related to health prevention and health promotion in the context of WBD.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Waterborne diseases and ethnic-related disparities: A 10 years nationwide mortality and burden of disease analysis from Ecuador

Ortíz-Prado

Simbaña-Rivera

Cevallos

et al. 2022

Front. Public Health

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BackgroundDespite worldwide progress in terms of clean water supply, sanitation, and hygiene knowledge, some middle and most of low-income countries are still experiencing many diseases transmitted using unsafe water and the lack of sanitation.MethodsTo understand the impact of all waterborne diseases (WBD) registered in Ecuador. We performed a population-based analysis of all cases and deaths due to WBD in Ecuador based on the national public databases of hospital discharges as a proxy of incidence, in-hospital mortality, and countrywide general mortality rates from 2011 to 2020.ResultsIn Ecuador, mestizos (mixed European and Indigenous American ancestry) had the greatest morbidity rate (141/100,000), followed by indigenous (63/100,000) and self-determined white patients (21/100,000). However, in terms of mortality, indigenous population have the greatest risk and rates, having a 790% additional mortality rate (2.6/100,000) than the reference group (self-determined white populations) at 0.29/100,000. The burden of disease analysis demonstrated that indigenous had the highest burden of disease caused by WBD with 964 YLL per every 100,000 people while mestizos have 360 YYL per 100,000 and self-determined white Ecuadorians have 109 YYL per 100,000.ConclusionsIn Ecuador, waterborne diseases (WBD) are still a major public health problem. We found that indigenous population had higher probability of getting sick and die due to WBD than the rest of the ethnic groups in Ecuador. We also found that younger children and the elderly are more likely to be admitted to the hospital due to a WBD. These epidemiological trends are probably associated with the lower life expectancy found among Indigenous than among the rest of the ethnic groups, who die at least, 39 years earlier than the self-determined white populations, 28 years earlier than Afro-Ecuadorians and 12 years earlier than the mestizos.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Waterborne diseases and ethnic-related disparities: A 10 years nationwide mortality and burden of disease analysis from Ecuador

Ortíz-Prado

Simbaña-Rivera

Cevallos

et al. 2022

Front. Public Health

Self Cite

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show abstract

“…In the country however, as well as in other parts of the Amazon rainforest there are indigenous populations living in voluntary isolation that drink water directly from the rivers [40,41]. Those groups could be affected by the poor quality of the water that might arrive through the tributary streams, thus, the importance of WBD is fundamental not only to reduce the prevalence of water-related infectious diseases but also to prevent the potential extermination of indigenous groups living in voluntary isolation [42]. The information provided in this investigation seeks to set a precedent and serve as an input to generate public policy related to health prevention and health promotion in the context of WBD.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Waterborne diseases as an indicator of health disparities: A nationwide study of WaSH related morbidity and mortality in Ecuador from 2011-2020

Ortíz-Prado

Simbaña-Rivera

Cevallos

et al. 2022

Preprint

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BackgroundDespite worldwide progress in terms of clean water supply, sanitation, and hygiene knowledge, some middle and most of low-income countries are still experiencing many diseases transmitted using unsafe water and the lack of sanitationMethodsTo understand the impact of all waterborne diseases (WBD) registered in Ecuador, we performed an analysis of all cases and deaths related to WBD to compute incidence and mortality rates.ResultsWe found that in Ecuador, mestizo people had the greatest morbidity rate (141/100,000) patient followed by indigenous (63/100,000) and self-determined white patients (21/100,000). However, in terms of mortality, indigenous population have a 790% increase in mortality rate (2.6 /100,000) when compared to self-determined white populations (0.29/100,000) or 176% more when compared to mestizos (0.94/100,000). This trend remains the same among children and the elderly who have higher mortality rates when compared to other ethnic groups.ConclusionsIn Ecuador, water borne diseases (WBD) are still a major public health problem. We found that younger children and elderly are more likely to be get sick and die due to water borne diseases. In terms of morbidity, mestizos reported the highest rate, while in terms of mortality, indigenous populations are the most affected, having the highest mortality among different ethnic groups. We hypostatize that reduced health care access is linked to fewer reporting incidence rates among indigenous populations but higher mortality rates.

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“…Endangered by the demographic expansion of ethnic majorities and corporate land grabbing, self-sustaining communities such as the Hadza risk disappearing, taking with them an incomparable treasure of human wisdom, knowledge, expertise, and ability. The main existential threats are diseases, loggers, oil workers, miners, Christian missionaries and a few other religious groups, visitors (including tourists), as well as neighboring farms and tribes [67].…”

Section: More Sustainable Than the Nation-state: Alternative Ethical Communitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There are between 150 and 200 human communities living in voluntary isolation across the world. The vast majority of Isolated Indigenous Peoples (IIPs) live in the Amazon rainforests of Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Venezuela [67]. Isolated societies often provide the reservoirs for formidable scientific advances.…”

Section: Isolated Tribes Traditional Knowledge and Advancement Of Sciencementioning

confidence: 99%

Exemplary Ethical Communities. A New Concept for a Livable Anthropocene

Conversi

2021

Sustainability

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This article argues that we need to look at living examples provided by non-state communities in various regions of the world that are, perhaps unwittingly, contributing to the maintenance of the Earth’s optimal thermal balance. These fully sustainable communities have been living outside the mainstream for centuries, even millennia, providing examples in the global struggle against the degradation of social–ecological systems. They have all, to varying degrees, embraced simple forms of living that make them ‘exemplary ethical communities’ (EECs)—human communities with a track record of sustainability related to forms of traditional knowledge and the capacity to survive outside the capitalist market and nation-state system. The article proceeds in three steps: First, it condenses a large body of research on the limits of the existing nation-state system and its accompanying ideology, nationalism, identifying this institutional–ideological complex as the major obstacle to tackling climate change. Second, alternative social formations that could offer viable micro-level and micro-scale alternatives are suggested. These are unlikely to identify with existing nation-states as they often form distinct types of social communities. Taking examples from hunter-gatherer societies and simple-living religious groups, it is shown how the protection and maintenance of these EECs could become the keystone in the struggle for survival of humankind and other forms of life. Finally, further investigation is called for, into how researchers can come forward with more examples of actually existing communities that might provide pathways to sustainability and resistance to the looming global environmental catastrophe.

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Avoiding extinction: the importance of protecting isolated Indigenous tribes

Cited by 7 publications

References 23 publications

Waterborne diseases and ethnic-related disparities: A 10 years nationwide mortality and burden of disease analysis from Ecuador

Waterborne diseases and ethnic-related disparities: A 10 years nationwide mortality and burden of disease analysis from Ecuador

Waterborne diseases as an indicator of health disparities: A nationwide study of WaSH related morbidity and mortality in Ecuador from 2011-2020

Exemplary Ethical Communities. A New Concept for a Livable Anthropocene

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