Epidemiology of COVID-19 Among Indigenous Populations in Brazil.

Marina Goulart Da Silva,Guilherme Cabreira Daros,Pablo Michel Barcelos Pereira,Rafael Mariano De Bitencourt,Caio Roberto De Almeida Barbosa,Betine Pinto Moehlecke Iser,Williams Ferreira Portela,Gabriel Oscar Cremona Parma,Bruna Muraro Vanassi

doi:10.1007/s40615-021-01035-2

Marina Goulart Da Silva, Guilherme Cabreira Daros + Show 7 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-021-01035-2

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Abstract

BackgroundDue to social and geographical isolation, indigenous people are more vulnerable to adverse conditions; however, there is a lack of data on the epidemics’ impact on these populations. Thus, this article’s objective was to describe the epidemiological situation of COVID-19 in indigenous communities in Brazil.MethodsThis descriptive observational study was carried out in indigenous communities in the municipality of Amaturá (Amazonas, Brazil). Individuals from the Alto Rio Solimões Special Indigenous Sanitary District (DSEI) who met the Sars-Cov-2 infection case definitions during the period between January and August 2020 were included. For case notification, the definitions adopted by the Ministry of Health of Brazil and by the Special Secretariat for Indigenous Health were considered.ResultsOut of the entire population served by the Alto Rio Solimões DSEI (n = 2890), 109 indigenous people were suspected of having been infected with Sars-Cov-R during the study period; a total of 89 cases were actually confirmed (rate: 3.08 cases/100,000 inhabitants). Most patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were female (56.2%), with a mean age of 32.4 (± 23.6) years. Predominant symptoms were fever (76.4%), dry cough (64%), and headache (60.7%). Complications occurred in 7.9% of the patients; no deaths were reported.ConclusionThese results enhance the observation that indigenous populations, even if relatively isolated, are exposed to COVID-19. The disease cases assessed showed a favorable evolution, which does not mean reducing the need for caring of this population.

Highlights

Marina Goulart da Silva and Pablo Michel Barcelos Pereira contributed to this work.Sars-Cov-2, identified in December 2019 as a new type of human Coronavirus, is a highly transmissible virus which, until August 31, 2020, has been for the cause of almost 25 million disease cases worldwide and 800,000 deaths since its outbreak began [1,2,3].there is little information about the impact of this pandemic on vulnerable populations, such as indigenous people, who are most susceptible due to their social and geographical isolation
The present study aimed to describe the epidemiological situation of Sars-Cov-2 in the indigenous communities located in the Alto Solimões region (AM, Brazil), characterizing the confirmed cases with regard to their constituent factors, comorbidities, associated signs and symptoms, and their evolution
This study consisted of 109 records of indigenous patients who are part of the Alto Rio Solimões DSEI, Polo Base Nova Itália

Summary

Introduction

Sars-Cov-2, identified in December 2019 as a new type of human Coronavirus, is a highly transmissible virus which, until August 31, 2020, has been for the cause of almost 25 million disease cases worldwide and 800,000 deaths since its outbreak began [1,2,3]. There is little information about the impact of this pandemic on vulnerable populations, such as indigenous people, who are most susceptible due to their social and geographical isolation. Until August 31, 2020, the 34 Special Indigenous Sanitary Districts (DSEI) in Brazil had notified 23,178 confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), according to the Special Secretariat for Indigenous Health (SESAI). Due to social and geographical isolation, indigenous people are more vulnerable to adverse conditions; there is a lack of data on the epidemics’ impact on these populations. This article’s objective was to describe the epidemiological situation of COVID-19 in indigenous communities in Brazil

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Results

Conclusion