COVID-19 pandemic evolution in the Brazilian Indigenous population

Abstract

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has affected several neglected populations such as the Indigenous peoples, which have suffered a high impact from the pandemic. Objectives To analyze the impact on the health and disease process according to the COVID-19 evolution in the Brazilian Indigenous population. Methods Data was collected from press releases by the Health Ministry and a descriptive analysis of the numbers of Indigenous individuals infected with the SARS-CoV-2 in Brazil was carried out. Results In February 2021, there were 41,855 confirmed cases of Indigenous individuals infected by the SARS-CoV-2, including 4,387 active cases, 36,809 recovered cases, and 549 deaths. The Brazilian Indigenous population is distributed in over 300 ethnic groups and, due to the high number of deaths by the COVID-19, many of these groups are endangered. The elderly are the most affected age group, and they play a fundamental role among the Indigenous population for transmitting their customs mainly orally. Indigenous populations do not have proper access to transport to specialized health centers, since many areas are inaccessible and other cases require air or river transportation, which many times results in late assistance. When managing the COVID-19, it is important to emphasize the need for social isolation to prevent the virus from spreading among the Indigenous groups, mainly due to their contact with other ethnic groups represented by missionaries, hunters, and wood explorers, among others. Conclusion The adoption of practices that can reduce the virus transmission among the Indigenous population and provide them with better access to treatment, mainly for the elderly, must be prioritized in Brazil.

Seroprevalence and lethality by SARS-CoV-2 in indigenous populations of Latin America and the Caribbean: a systematic review

“…All the studies included were published between 2020–2021 and were cross-sectional ( n = 15). Eleven of the included studies were conducted in the indigenous population of Brazil ( Hallal et al, 2020 ; Baqui et al, 2020 ; Santos et al, 2020 ; Palamim, Ortega & Marson, 2020 ; Horta et al, 2020 ; Rodrigues et al, 2021 ; da Silva et al, 2021a ; Escobar, Rodriguez & Monteiro, 2020 ; Mendes et al, 2021 ; da Silva et al, 2021b ; Hillesheim et al, 2020 ), three were conducted in the indigenous population of Mexico ( Ortiz-Hernández & Pérez-Sastré, 2020 ; Argoty-Pantoja et al, 2021 ; Ibarra-Nava et al, 2021 ), and one in Colombia ( Cifuentes et al, 2021 ). No multicounty studies were included.…”

“…Only five of the included studies specified data about the age and sex of the indigenous participants studied ( Rodrigues et al, 2021 ; da Silva et al, 2021a ; da Silva et al, 2021b ; Argoty-Pantoja et al, 2021 ; Ibarra-Nava et al, 2021 ). Six of the studies were conducted specifically in the indigenous population, all from Brazil ( Santos et al, 2020 ; Palamim, Ortega & Marson, 2020 ; Rodrigues et al, 2021 ; da Silva et al, 2021a ; Mendes et al, 2021 ; da Silva et al, 2021b ). Three pairs of studies analyzed the same database during a similar time frame; thus, the results of one study may have been included in those of another ( Hallal et al, 2020 ; Baqui et al, 2020 ; Horta et al, 2020 ; da Silva et al, 2021a ; Argoty-Pantoja et al, 2021 ; Ibarra-Nava et al, 2021 ) ( Table 1 ).…”

“…Twelve studies reported data on the lethality in indigenous populations; eight were from Brazil ( Baqui et al, 2020 ; Santos et al, 2020 ; Palamim, Ortega & Marson, 2020 ; da Silva et al, 2021a ; Escobar, Rodriguez & Monteiro, 2020 ; Mendes et al, 2021 ; da Silva et al, 2021b ; Hillesheim et al, 2020 ), three from Mexico ( Ortiz-Hernández & Pérez-Sastré, 2020 ; Argoty-Pantoja et al, 2021 ; Ibarra-Nava et al, 2021 ), and one from Colombia ( Cifuentes et al, 2021 ) ( Table 1 ). Regarding the Brazilian studies, lethality ranged between 0%, in a study that reported zero deaths among 89 confirmed COVID-19 cases ( da Silva et al, 2021a ), and 53.3% in a study that included 15 indigenous people with COVID-19 in a hospital setting, eight of whom died ( Baqui et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Regarding the Brazilian studies, lethality ranged between 0%, in a study that reported zero deaths among 89 confirmed COVID-19 cases ( da Silva et al, 2021a ), and 53.3% in a study that included 15 indigenous people with COVID-19 in a hospital setting, eight of whom died ( Baqui et al, 2020 ). Mendes et al (2021) conducted a cross-sectional study including the largest sample of COVID-19 cases among indigenous individuals ( n = 41,855), among whom 549 died, reporting a lethality of 1.31%. In Mexico, Ibarra-Nava et al (2021) reported that 691 people of a total of 4,178 COVID-19 indigenous cases died, obtaining a lethality of 16.5%.…”

Covid-19, Sindemia E Violência Estrutural: Participação Social E Protesto Na Atenção Primária Aos Povos Indígenas No Mato Grosso Do Sul, Brasil.

“…Assim, no MS, a COVID-19 espalhou-se rapidamente entre os indígenas causando muitas mortes. Mesmo com subnotificações, os dados oficiais expressaram uma rápida evolução de casos de COVID-19 entre os povos indígenas, como por exemplo, no DSEI-MS, que apresentava as maiores taxas de casos positivos e de mortalidade por COVID-19 em fevereiro de 2021 (MENDES et al, 2021).…”