Indigenous pediatric care and basic sanitation: challenges and strategies for a necessary integration
1
Collective Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Ministry of Health, Recife, Brazil
2
Collective Health, Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, Brazil
3
Dentistry, University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A1904
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
The health of indigenous children is strongly influenced by structural inequalities in traditional territories in Brazil. In Pernambuco, a state characterized by high indigenous ethnic diversity, insufficient access to basic sanitation directly affects the organization of child health services resulting in increased demand for pediatric care 1-5. Given the heightened vulnerability of indigenous children to preventable conditions, this study aimed to analyze the relationship between demand for indigenous pediatric care and the availability of sanitation infrastructure in the state from 2019 to 2022.
METHODS:
This ecological descriptive study was conducted using data from the indigenous health care information system (SIASI) and the planinfra database of the Brazilian ministry of health. a total of 6637 pediatric care visits involving indigenous children aged 0 to 4 years residing in pernambuco were analyzed. records were organized by municipality and assessed according to the presence of sanitation infrastructure projects in indigenous territories.
RESULTS:
During the study period 6637 pediatric care visits among indigenous children were recorded. The municipalities of carnaubeira da penha (1236 visits) pesqueira (1186) jatoba (674) Tacaratu (583) and Buique (571) accounted for most of the demand for indigenous pediatric care in the state. territories with higher volumes of pediatric visits were largely located in areas with uneven sanitation coverage often characterized by difficult geographic access and persistent structural constraints. These findings indicate enduring patterns of sanitation related vulnerability affecting indigenous childhood.
CONCLUSIONS:
The high demand for pediatric care among indigenous populations in Pernambuco highlights basic sanitation as a critical determinant for child health protection. The results underscore the importance of expanding sanitation initiatives in a sustainable continuous and culturally appropriate manner integrated with indigenous health care services as a strategy to reduce health inequalities.
The health of indigenous children is strongly influenced by structural inequalities in traditional territories in Brazil. In Pernambuco, a state characterized by high indigenous ethnic diversity, insufficient access to basic sanitation directly affects the organization of child health services resulting in increased demand for pediatric care 1-5. Given the heightened vulnerability of indigenous children to preventable conditions, this study aimed to analyze the relationship between demand for indigenous pediatric care and the availability of sanitation infrastructure in the state from 2019 to 2022.
METHODS:
This ecological descriptive study was conducted using data from the indigenous health care information system (SIASI) and the planinfra database of the Brazilian ministry of health. a total of 6637 pediatric care visits involving indigenous children aged 0 to 4 years residing in pernambuco were analyzed. records were organized by municipality and assessed according to the presence of sanitation infrastructure projects in indigenous territories.
RESULTS:
During the study period 6637 pediatric care visits among indigenous children were recorded. The municipalities of carnaubeira da penha (1236 visits) pesqueira (1186) jatoba (674) Tacaratu (583) and Buique (571) accounted for most of the demand for indigenous pediatric care in the state. territories with higher volumes of pediatric visits were largely located in areas with uneven sanitation coverage often characterized by difficult geographic access and persistent structural constraints. These findings indicate enduring patterns of sanitation related vulnerability affecting indigenous childhood.
CONCLUSIONS:
The high demand for pediatric care among indigenous populations in Pernambuco highlights basic sanitation as a critical determinant for child health protection. The results underscore the importance of expanding sanitation initiatives in a sustainable continuous and culturally appropriate manner integrated with indigenous health care services as a strategy to reduce health inequalities.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
