The Xavante Longitudinal Health Study in Brazil: Objectives, design, and key results

Abstract

Objective The Xavante Longitudinal Health Study was developed to permit granular tracking of contemporary health challenges faced by indigenous communities in Brazil, taking into consideration ongoing historical processes that may be associated with increases in child undernutrition, adult obesity, and cardiovascular disease risks. Methods This was an open‐cohort study with six semiannual data collection waves from 2009 to 2012. The study was undertaken in two Xavante villages, Pimentel Barbosa and Etênhiritipá, State of Mato Grosso, Central Brazil. No sampling technique was used. Data collection placed emphasis on growth and nutrition of children under five and nutrition status, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels of adolescents and adults. Results Baseline data collection began in July/August 2009 with a population census (656 individuals). Between the first and final waves, the study population increased by 17%. At baseline, stunting and wasting was elevated for most age groups <10 years. Overweight, obesity, and increased risk of metabolic complications were expressive among individuals >17 years, disproportionately affecting females. Anemia was elevated in most age groups, especially among females. Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure was moderate. The overall prevalence of high blood pressure was relatively low. Conclusions Our findings reveal marked health disparities relative to the Brazilian national population and a complex dietary health epidemiology involving the double burden of malnutrition, rapidly changing nutritional indicators, and elevated metabolic disease risk. The topically broad multidisciplinary focus permitted construction of the richest longitudinal data set of socio‐epidemiological information for an indigenous population in Brazil.

Double Burden of Excess Weight and Anemia in Latin American Children up to 2019

“…In Brazil, a socio-epidemiological longitudinal study found marked disparities in the double burden of malnutrition (including anemia and excess weight) of the indigenous populations compared to the general population (Welch et al 2020). In cross-sectional studies, the double burden of malnutrition (stunting in children and excess weight in the mother) was associated with the educational level and nonmasonry (inadequate) houses (Gea-Horta et al 2016).…”

“…Several studies focused on indigenous populations (Coimbra et al 2013;Ramirez-Zea et al 2014;Welch et al 2020;Ramírez-Luzuriaga et al 2020). Welch et al (2020) found that, in children under ten years old in indigenous communities in Brazil, stunting, wasting, and malnutrition, including anemia, were more notorious.…”

“…Several studies focused on indigenous populations (Coimbra et al 2013;Ramirez-Zea et al 2014;Welch et al 2020;Ramírez-Luzuriaga et al 2020). Welch et al (2020) found that, in children under ten years old in indigenous communities in Brazil, stunting, wasting, and malnutrition, including anemia, were more notorious. In general, it is notorious that the prevalence of the double burden of malnutrition, including anemia, is disproportionately higher in indigenous groups than in the general population (Coimbra et al 2013;Ramírez-Luzuriaga et al 2020).…”

The Xavante indigenous population in Mato Grosso: health-related sociodemographic characteristics

“…6 The Xavante indigenous people are recognized as one of the ethnic groups with diverse reports and studies in the fields of anthropology, demography and health, in particular the population of the indigenous land (IL) Pimentel Barbosa, which has investigations carried out since the 1950s, being accompanied through studies in the same fields mentioned until the present moment. [7][8][9][10][11] Based on the results of the 2000 Census, observed for the Xavante population of six IL, compared to the same data from a second source (Indigenous Health Information System -SIASI (Sistema de Informação a Saúde Indígena)), the authors considered the population size and its distribution in age groups and sex to be consistent, being located primarily in indigenous reserves, in the rural area of the encompassing municipalities. 9,12 The Xavante's demographic dynamics involve recognized population growth in contexts of high infant mortality rates.…”

Glycemic profile and associated factors in indigenous Munduruku, Amazonas

“…In relation to waist circumference, the Munduruku presented a lower mean [85.3 cm (±10.2)], when compared to the Xavante indigenous people (Mato Grosso) [95.1 (±8.3) [34], but higher when compared to the Yanomami (Roraima) [76.3 (±46.8)] [35].…”