Health demands, ancestral therapeutic practices, and access determinants to care in the cariri indigenous community in northeastern brazil
1
School of Medicine, Universidade Regional do Cariri (URCA), Crato, Brazil
2
School of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Cariri (UFCA), Barbalha, Brazil
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A1941
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Indigenous peoples have historically faced asymmetries and persistent barriers to accessing health care1. The literature highlights difficulties related to access, mapping, and social and health support2, particularly in Brazil’s Northeast region3. Therefore, this study aimed to conduct a situational diagnosis, addressing health needs, traditional healing practices, and structural barriers to care of the ancestral Cariri Indigenous community in Poço-Dantas Umari, located in the municipality of Crato, Brazil.
METHODS:
A cross-sectional, descriptive, and qualitative study was conducted through a technical field visit on May 3, 2025, as part of the project “Roots of Healing”. Data were collected from community leaders, including the shaman, as well as academic representatives. Information regarding health service organization, cultural health practices, community profile, and reported demands was systematized using a descriptive-analytical approach.
RESULTS:
The village comprises approximately 140 to 150 families and serves as an articulating center for seven other Cariri villages. The ancestral language is nearly extinct, despite ongoing revitalization efforts. There is no Basic Health Unit (BHU) or primary medical care available in the locality. Access to the nearest BHU is hindered by limited public transportation, delays in diagnostic test authorization, and the absence or shortage of specialized medical care. The most commonly reported health conditions included childhood anemia, osteoarticular diseases, and chronic non-communicable diseases such as cardiac diseases, pulmonary conditions, systemic arterial hypertension, and diabetes. Ancestral therapeutic practices, led by the shaman, include the use of medicinal plants, prayers, and traditional care, coexisting with the biomedical health services.
CONCLUSIONS:
The Cariri Indigenous community experiences significant vulnerabilities in access to health care, despite preserving a highly relevant ancestral therapeutic framework. There is an urgent need to strengthen preventive strategies, expand multiprofessional health care, and promote culturally sensitive care that addresses the complexity of Indigenous communities.
Indigenous peoples have historically faced asymmetries and persistent barriers to accessing health care1. The literature highlights difficulties related to access, mapping, and social and health support2, particularly in Brazil’s Northeast region3. Therefore, this study aimed to conduct a situational diagnosis, addressing health needs, traditional healing practices, and structural barriers to care of the ancestral Cariri Indigenous community in Poço-Dantas Umari, located in the municipality of Crato, Brazil.
METHODS:
A cross-sectional, descriptive, and qualitative study was conducted through a technical field visit on May 3, 2025, as part of the project “Roots of Healing”. Data were collected from community leaders, including the shaman, as well as academic representatives. Information regarding health service organization, cultural health practices, community profile, and reported demands was systematized using a descriptive-analytical approach.
RESULTS:
The village comprises approximately 140 to 150 families and serves as an articulating center for seven other Cariri villages. The ancestral language is nearly extinct, despite ongoing revitalization efforts. There is no Basic Health Unit (BHU) or primary medical care available in the locality. Access to the nearest BHU is hindered by limited public transportation, delays in diagnostic test authorization, and the absence or shortage of specialized medical care. The most commonly reported health conditions included childhood anemia, osteoarticular diseases, and chronic non-communicable diseases such as cardiac diseases, pulmonary conditions, systemic arterial hypertension, and diabetes. Ancestral therapeutic practices, led by the shaman, include the use of medicinal plants, prayers, and traditional care, coexisting with the biomedical health services.
CONCLUSIONS:
The Cariri Indigenous community experiences significant vulnerabilities in access to health care, despite preserving a highly relevant ancestral therapeutic framework. There is an urgent need to strengthen preventive strategies, expand multiprofessional health care, and promote culturally sensitive care that addresses the complexity of Indigenous communities.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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