Multimorbidity and social inequalities among indigenous communities in Brazil

This study will establish urgently needed evidence on the prevalence of Multimorbidity (MM) among Kaingang and Guarani Indigenous peoples, and how MM prevalence relates to structural (e.g. racism, poverty) and social (e.g. lifestyles) determinants, access to care, health and well-being.
Project status
Ongoing
Departments
International

Globally, Indigenous people have worse health outcomes than the national populations of the countries they live in. Multimorbidity (MM), the co-existence of two or more chronic conditions, has a disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations. Knowledge about MM in Brazilian Indigenous populations is scant, but high rates of diabetes and hypertension are known, and these diseases occur a decade earlier than in the national population. This study will establish urgently needed evidence on the prevalence of MM among Kaingang and Guarani Indigenous peoples, and how MM prevalence relates to structural (e.g. racism, poverty) and social (e.g. lifestyles) determinants, access to care, health and well-being. In partnership with Indigenous stakeholders, including Village chiefs and primary care practitioners, the team will conduct a population-based survey, focus group discussions with patients, carers and service providers and several stakeholder engagement activities to identify priorities targeting structural and social determinants of health and access to primary care.

Research Team: Dr Divya Parmar, King's College London; Professor Ieda Maria Ávila Vargas Dias, Federal University of Juiz de Fora; Professor Antonio Jose Grande, State University of Mato Grosso do Sul; Professor Paulo de Tarso Coelho Jardim, State University of Mato Grosso do Sul

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