In search of Pan-American indigenous health and harmony

Abstract

The objective of this article is to describe the state of North, Central, South American and Caribbean (Pan-American) indigenous health. The second objective is to identify recommendations for optimal healthcare and research strategies to achieve indigenous health equity. Current health disparities continue to present between indigenous populations and general populations. Research foci of Pan-American indigenous health center on health outcomes for chronic and acute disease as well as presence of indigenous in data sets. Research is both qualitative and quantitative. Recommendations to improve indigenous health in effort of health equity are variable yet feasible. Stronger epidemiology, continued cohesive Pan-American global strategies, better research alignment with emphasis to quality and comprehensive metric analyses in healthcare delivery are all avenues to improve the health of the indigenous. Research and healthcare delivery on the Pan-American indigenous must be maximized for optimal results, must be representative of the indigenous communities, must be implemented in best practice and must introduce sustainable healthcare delivery for Pan-American indigenous health equity.

The Incidence of Stroke in Indigenous Populations of Countries With a Very High Human Development Index: A Systematic Review Protocol

“…Indigenous and tribal populations (hereafter referred to as Indigenous Peoples, though we respectfully acknowledge that this may not be the preferred term for all peoples) are the traditional custodians of many ecologically and economically diverse regions around the globe (1,2). There is great variance in historical, cultural, epistemological, socioeconomic and environmental factors within and between these populations, thereby, greatly enriching the cultural and linguistic diversity of the world today (1,3).…”

“…Despite these recent gains, Indigenous populations typically (though not uniformly) experience substantial disadvantages in socioeconomic status and health outcomes relative to the general population in their countries (4,(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19). This is especially true of countries with a Very High Human Development Index (HDI) where, on average, the general population enjoy a high quality of life and life expectancy, yet these indicators often do not extend to their Indigenous, colonized populations (3,9,10,20).…”

“…Such research may have been designed and conducted applying Western notions of health to the Indigenous context, often without regard for the priorities of the Indigenous population in question (22,24,25). Indigenous Peoples' concept of health and often encompasses a more holistic view, incorporating physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health, along with a connection to family, community and their land (3,9,10,19,(26)(27)(28).…”

“…The incremental gains in health and well-being resulting from a greater evidence base and improved technology have often been smaller for some Indigenous populations, relative to their corresponding non-Indigenous population (3,21,29,30). These limited gains have partly been attributed to a shortage of solutions-based research designs, such as studies developing and evaluating the efficacy of culturally responsive health interventions (20,21).…”

“…Furthermore, much research has not adhered to data sovereignty principles, including Indigenous Peoples' control over the collection and use of their own data (31). Evidence-based actions are urgently required to address the health disparities (3,9,13,32).…”