Prevalence of anemia among Indigenous children in Latin America

A systematic review

Bibliographic Data

ID14458574
AuthorsCarlos Alberto Rosas-Jiménez (0000-0003-1529-3785, Heidelberg University. Heidelberg Institute for Global Health. Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany), Engin Tercan (0000-0003-0562-9046, Heidelberg University. Heidelberg Institute for Global Health. Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany), Olaf Horstick (0000-0001-9873-5686, Heidelberg University. Heidelberg Institute for Global Health. Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany), Ekeoma Igboegwu (0000-0002-3775-7061, Heidelberg University. Heidelberg Institute for Global Health. Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany), Peter Dambach (0000-0002-1086-6866, Heidelberg University. Heidelberg Institute for Global Health. Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany), Valérie R Louis (0000-0002-0186-5028, Heidelberg University. Heidelberg Institute for Global Health. Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany), Volker Winkler (0000-0002-9974-1145, Heidelberg University. Heidelberg Institute for Global Health. Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany), Andreas Deckert (0000-0003-0526-6249, Heidelberg University. Heidelberg Institute for Global Health. Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany)
Year2022
Volume56
Pages99
Publication date2022-11-18
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueRevista de Saúde Pública (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0034-8910 • E-ISSN: 0034-8910
PublisherUniversidade de São Paulo. Agência de Bibliotecas e Coleções Digitais (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.11606/s1518-8787.2022056004360
LanguageEN
Citations received2

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence pattern of anemia among Indigenous children in Latin America. METHODS: PRISMA guidelines were followed. Records were identified from the databases PubMed, Google Scholar, and LILACS by two independent researchers between May and June 2021. Studies were included if the following criteria were met: a) studied Indigenous people b) was about children (from 0 to 12 years old); c) reported a prevalence estimate of anemia; d) had been conducted in any of the countries of Latin America; e) was published either in English, Portuguese, or Spanish; f) is a peer-reviewed article; and g) was published at any date. RESULTS: Out of 2,401 unique records retrieved, 42 articles met the inclusion criteria. A total of 39 different Indigenous communities were analyzed in the articles, and in 21 of them (54.0%) child anemia was a severe public health problem (prevalence ≥ 40%). Those communities were the Aymara (Bolivia); Aruak, Guaraní, Kamaiurá, Karapotó, Karibe, Kaxinanuá, Ma-cro-Jê, Suruí, Terena, Xavante (Brazil); Cabécar (Costa Rica), Achuar, Aguaruna, Awajún, Urarina, Yomybato (Peru); Piaroa and Yucpa (Venezuela); and Quechua (Peru and Bolivia). Children below two years had the highest prevalence of anemia (between 16.2% and 86.1%). Among Indigenous people, risk factors for anemia include nutrition, poor living conditions, access to health services, racism, and discrimination. Bolivia and Guatemala are scarcely studied, despite having the highest proportion of Indigenous communities in Latin America. CONCLUSIONS: Anemia constitutes a poorly documented public health problem among Indigenous children in 21 Indigenous communities in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, and Peru. In all Indigenous communities included in this study child anemia was an issue, especially in younger children

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