Native Research Articles

High silent prevalence of human herpesvirus 1 (HSV-1) infection affecting the indigenous reservation of the municipality of Dourados, Central-West Brazil

BackgroundThe indigenous population located in the central region of Brazil, is the second largest in terms of population size in the country. The Indigenous Reserve of Dourados has risk factors that increase the vulnerability of the indigenous population to infectious diseases, especially Human alphaherpesvirus (HSV-1), a neglected disease with high prevalence in priority populations in developing countries. The virus can also cause many more severe diseases, including widespread neonatal infections, herpetic keratitis, and herpes encephalitis, which can be fatal if left untreated. We estimated the prevalence of anti-HSV-1 antibodies and correlated it with the demographic and behavioral characteristics of the Indigenous population of the Jaguapirú and Bororó villages (Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul (MS), Brazil).MethodsOur approach was cross-sectional. From March 2017 to November 2018. Using anti-HSV-1 (Gg1) IgM and anti-HSV-1 (gG1) IgG Euroimmun and the detection and quantification of HSV-1 viral load in plasma samples, through real-time PCR. The maps were constructed using QGIS and the statistical analyses using R Studio software.ResultsA total of 1138 individuals (> 18 years old) were enrolled. The prevalence of anti-HSV-1 IgM and IgG were 20% and 97.5%, respectively. The prevalence of anti-HSV-1 antibodies for IgG was higher in both sexes. Anti-HSV-1 IgM antibodies were present in 17.1%, 21.2%, 12.5%, and 22% of the participants with urinary problems, genital wounds, genital warts, and urethral discharge, respectively. Real-time PCR was used for confirmatory testing; HSV-1 DNA was detected in 25.6% (54/211) of anti-HSV1 IgM-positive samples. Viral loads ranged from 5.99E + 02 to 3.36E + 13.ConclusionsThe seroprevalence of HSV-1 IgM and detection of HSV-1 DNA in the Indigenous population confirmed high silent prevalence. Furthermore, the seroprevalence of HSV-1 in the Indigenous population was higher than that reported in the general adult Brazilian population. Various socioeconomic factors, drug use, and health and sexual behaviors could contribute to the facilitation of HSV-1 transmission in the Indigenous population. Our results may help develop culturally appropriate intervention programs that eliminate health access barriers and improve the implementation of public health policies aimed at promoting information regarding the prevention, treatment, and control of HSV-1 infection in Brazilian Indigenous populations.

Immigrant and Racialized Populations' Cumulative Exposure to Discrimination and Associations with Long-Term Conditions During COVID-19: A Nationwide Large-Scale Study in Canada.

This cross-sectional study examines associations between the race-migration nexus, cumulative exposure to intersectional discrimination (2years before and during the COVID-19 pandemic), and long-term conditions. A nationwide self-selected sample (n = 32,605) was obtained from a Statistics Canada's Crowdsourcing online survey from August 4 to 24, 2020. Binary and multinomial logistic regression models were used to examine disparities by the race-migration nexus in accumulative experiences of multiple situations- and identity-based discrimination and their relations with long-term conditions, after controlling for sociodemographic covariates. During the pandemic, discrimination stemming from racialization - such as race/skin color (24.4% vs 20.1%) and ethnicity/culture (18.5% vs 16.5%) - and cyberspace (34.1% vs 29.8%) exaggerated relative to pre-pandemic period; compared to Canadian-born (CB) whites, the likelihood of experiencing multiple discrimination increased alongside the domains of discrimination being additively intersected (e.g., identity-based, all p's < 0.001) among CB racialized minorities (ORs 2.08 to 11.78), foreign-born (FB) racialized minorities (ORs 1.99 to 12.72), and Indigenous populations (ORs 1.62 to 8.17), except for FB whites (p > 0.01); dose-response relationships were found between cumulative exposure to multiple discrimination and odds of reporting long-term conditions (p's < 0.001), including seeing (ORs 1.63 to 2.99), hearing (ORs 1.83 to 4.45), physical (ORs 1.66 to 3.87), cognitive (ORs 1.81 to 3.79), and mental health-related impairments (ORs 1.82 to 3.41). Despite a universal health system, Canadians who are CB/FB racialized and Indigenous populations, have a higher prevalence of cumulative exposure to different aspects of discrimination that are associated with multiple long-term conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Equity-driven solutions are needed to tackle upstream determinants of health inequalities through uprooting intersectional discrimination faced by racialized and immigrant communities.

Developed Rhizobium Strains Enhance Soil Fertility and Yield of Legume Crops in Haryana, India.

Three strains of Gram-negative bacterium,Rhizobium, were developed by gamma (γ)-irradiation random mutagenesis. The developed strains were evaluated for their augmented features for symbiotic association, nitrogen fixation, and crop yield of three leguminous plants-chickpea, field-pea, and lentil-in agricultural fields of the northern Indian state of Haryana. Crops treated with developed mutants exhibited significant improvement in plant features and the yield of crops when compared to the control-uninoculated crops and crops grown with indigenous or commercial crop-specific strains of Rhizobium. This improvement was attributed to generated mutants, MbPrRz1 (on chickpea), MbPrRz2 (on lentil), and MbPrRz3 (on field-pea). Additionally, the cocultured symbiotic response of MbPrRz1 and MbPrRz2 mutants was found to be more pronounced on all three crops. The statistical analysis using Pearson's correlation coefficientsrevealed that nodulation and plant biomass were the most related parameters of crop yield. Among the effectiveness of developed mutants, MbPrRz1 yielded the best results for all three tested crops. Moreover, the developed mutants enhanced macro- and micronutrients of the experimental fields when compared with fields harboring the indigenous rhizobial community. These developed mutants were further genetically characterized, predominantly expressing nitrogen fixation marker, nifH, and appeared to belong to Mesorhizobium ciceri (MbPrRz1) and Rhizobium leguminosarum (both MbPrRz2 and MbPrRz3). In summary, this study highlights the potential of developed Rhizobium mutants as effective biofertilizers for sustainable agriculture, showcasing their ability to enhance symbiotic relationships, crop yield, and soil fertility.

Non-Moro IP Inclusion in Education Governance: Historical Notes on Institutional Policies and IP Population in MSU-IIT, Iligan City

This article presents a historical overview of institutional initiatives concerning the inclusion of Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples as indicators of good governance in education. This underscores the importance of not only integrated but an inclusive education for every student from both the mainstream and the margins. Gleaned from the experience of MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT), this study elaborates the following: (1) what are the policies and programs contributing to the inclusion of Non-Moro IPs in MSU-IIT, and (2) how MSU-IIT administered the Non-Moro IP population and what are the challenges encountered. This research utilized qualitative methods with data coming from MSU-IIT offices and online databases, corroborated with purposive-snowball interviews. Discussions show that the IP students have faced a number of obstacles that have interfered with their college experience, whether they relate to admissions or retention including dropping out of classes, financial constraints and struggle in major coursework leading to the necessary improvement on their overall scholastic performance. MSU-IIT has also responded to the challenge of exclusion through, but not limited to, the General Education Program, the Five-Year Development Plan covering Education and Student Support Pillars, the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity (EDI) Policy, and other academic and non- academic pathway initiatives.

The pasts, presents and futures of transnational and global Irish Studies: “snapshots”

ABSTRACT As with any other discipline, we are periodically drawn towards reviewing the trajectory of Irish Studies, contemplating possible future directions: What is happening now? What should come next? Four scholars at varying stages of their academic careers and located in tertiary institutions in Ireland, USA, and Australia address these questions with specific reference to the transnational or global aspects of Irish Studies, a key focus of this special issue. Their brief “snapshots” take us on a journey starting with gendered migrant histories and the methodological challenges facing the often-disappointed researcher seeking the experiences of Irish-speaking diasporas, before engaging with new ways of confronting age-old questions about both Irish migrants’ implication in the dispossession of Indigenous populations and the historical racialisation of Irishness in Australia and Aotearoa/New Zealand. We are then introduced to research into revolutionary Ireland’s collective global consciousness and the development of a Global Irish Studies which seeks to create a sustainable dialectic between Irish and non-Irish-based scholars, finishing with the assertion that Ireland has always been a porous and transnational space, and that while it may have been hiding in plain sight as it were, the international and relational aspect of national literatures are profound and unavoidable.

The seroconversion history to SARS-CoV-2 in Indigenous people from Brazil – the interplay between exposure, vaccination, and tuberculosis

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant loss of human lives and a worldwide decline in quality of life. Although our understanding of the pandemic has improved significantly since the beginning, the natural history of COVID-19 and its impacts on under-represented populations, such as Indigenous people from America, remain largely unknown. We performed a retrospective serological survey with two Brazilian Indigenous populations (n=624), Tupiniquim and Guarani-Mbyá. Samples were collected between September 2020 and July 2021: a period comprising the dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 variants and the beginning of COVID-19 vaccination in Brazil. Seroconversions against S and N antigens were assessed using three different commercially available ELISA kits. Samples were also used to assess the prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) in the same population (n=529). Seroconversion against SARS-CoV-2 antigens was considered positive if at least one of the three ELISA kits detected levels of specific antibodies above the threshold specified by the manufacturer. In this sense, we report 56.0% (n=349/623) of seroconverted individuals. Relative seroconversion peaked after introduction of the Coronavac vaccine in February 2021. Vaccination increased the production of anti-S IgG from 3.9% to 48.6%. Our results also indicated that 11.0% (n=46/417) of all individuals were positive for TB. Seroconversion to SARS-CoV-2 was similar between individuals with positive tuberculosis test results to those with negative test results. Most vaccinated individuals seroconverted to SARS-CoV-2, indicating that Coronavac may be as protective in individuals from these indigenous groups as observed in the general Brazilian population. COVID-19 severity was minimal regardless of incomplete vaccine coverage, suggesting that vaccination may not be the only factor protecting individuals from severe COVID-19. Tuberculosis is highly prevalent and not associated with increased seroconversion to SARS-CoV-2.

Environment driven changes in type 2 diabetes, overweight and obesity in an isolated Mixe community in the Valley of Oaxaca, southern Mexico.

This study focused on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in a group of adult Mixe, an Indigenous population from Oaxaca, Mexico. Mixe comprised an estimated 9.4% (n ≅ 90 000) of the Indigenous population in Oaxaca. Mexico. This study focused on a group of adult Mixe, an Indigenous population from Oaxaca, Mexico. To compare the prevalence of T2DM, overweight (OW), obesity (OB), and hypertension (HTN) between 2007 and 2017 for a small, isolated Mixe community in the Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico. We test whether or not environmental changes have affected T2DM prevalence. Demographic and medical record data were collected in the community in 2007 and 2017 from the medical clinic and the mayor's office. T2DM was medically diagnosed among adults (>34 years old), in 2007 (n = 730) and in 2017 (n = 829). T2DM crude prevalence increased from 6.7% to 12.1% (p < .001) from 2007 to 2017. The mean age of the sample analyzed was 60.6 (SD = 9.7). Age-adjusted T2DM prevalence increased from 6.7% to 10.8% (p < .002). T2DM was 5.7%-5.5% among males (p < .53) and 7.1%-13.6% among females (p < .001). Sex-specific OW and OB simulation studies indicate females had 7% less OW in 2007, and males were unchanged compared with 2017. OB among males and females was significantly higher in 2017 compared with 2007 (increased by 15.2% and 8.3%, males and females, respectively). Sexes combined OW + OB increased 12.7% among males but was unchanged in females (-0.5%). In the sexes combined analysis, OW prevalence increased 12.7% to 27.1% (p < .001) and OB prevalence increased 10.7%-27.9% (p < .001) from 2007 to 2017. HTN did not change significantly from 2007 to 2017 (15.4% and 14.6%, respectively) (p = .63) in adults. Among T2DM individuals, the frequency of HTN was not significantly different in 2007 and 2017 (57.1% and 37%, respectively) (p = .65). Transition to a Western diet consisting of high-carbohydrate foods occurred at the same time as increased T2DM from 2007 to 2017, with a higher prevalence of T2DM noted among females in 2017. An increased prevalence of T2DM, OW, and OB but not HTN was observed in the Mixe community from 2007 to 2017 and was associated with the adoption of a high-carbohydrate Western diet.

The relational state and local struggles in the mapping of land in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia

ABSTRACT The article investigates how state-initiated participatory mapping, with the aim of legalizing Indigenous land, has implications for peasants' and Indigenous people’s struggles for control over land and resources. Empirically, the paper refers to a study of participatory mapping in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, initiated by the local government. We suggest that this practice of mapping can be seen as a new form of state territorialization that, in complex ways, mobilizes a range of actors across space under the framework of a participatory approach. However, participatory mapping also creates a new foundation for mobilizing resistance to states’ efforts to gain territorial control.

Exploring Social Media and E-Communication Patterns Among Indigenous Youth in Sri Lanka

Social media and other digital technology use has skyrocketed in Sri Lanka and around the world, especially among marginalized youth groups like Indigenous communities. This study delves into the intricate interplay of social media and electronic communication (E-communication) patterns within the context of indigenous youth in Sri Lanka. As globalization and technological advancements continue to reshape traditional sociocultural landscapes, indigenous communities find themselves navigating an evolving digital terrain. this study aims to elucidate the patterns of engagement among this demographic, focusing on their preferences and behaviors in the digital realm. This paper examines the published literature to learn about how Indigenous youth in Sri Lanka use digital technologies and social media, as well as the positive and negative effects this has on their lives. This quantitative study on Sri Lanka's indigenous youth employed simple random sampling and an online questionnaire survey with 110 respondents, revealing insights into their social media and electronic communication behaviors, and was conducted using a descriptive research design and a sample of 36 respondents. The research findings suggest that even though the indigenous youth have less access to social media and digital technology, there are many ways social media affects their daily activities. growing the population and other advancements have increased the usage of social media and other devices among the youth indigenous population in Sri Lanka. It is anticipated that the findings will provide valuable insights for scholars, policymakers, and community leaders, fostering a more holistic approach to digital inclusion that respects the unique needs and aspirations of indigenous youth in Sri Lanka.

ALONE, LOST, AND UNPREPARED BY THE SYSTEM: INDIGENOUS CARE LEAVERS’ EXPERIENCES OF AGING OUT OF CHILD WELFARE CARE IN MANITOBA

Limited research has been carried out on Indigenous young people transitioning out of care in Canada. This article provides a coherent and meaningful account of the journey of aging out of care in the province of Manitoba, as presented by 17 Indigenous care leavers. Using a qualitative multilevel approach grounded in first-person narratives, this study focused on incorporating and elevating the voices of Indigenous care leavers. Participants detailed their experiences of planning for the transition and aging out of care, and described their life post-care. The care leavers expressed that the Child and Family Services-led process of planning for and transitioning out of care was unclear and failed to engage them as partners, and as a result left them ill-prepared for life post-care. Additionally, participants’ experiences serve as evidence of enduring gaps in transition supports, namely in mental health and interpersonal supports. These supports were often unavailable or inaccessible, challenges that were amplified during participants’ transition out of care and in the post-care period. The experiential knowledge from this study contributes valuable information to inform responsive child welfare transition policies and practices that are reflective of the experiences and needs of the population it intends to serve.

Genomic surveillance of malaria parasites in an indigenous community in the Peruvian Amazon

Hard-to-reach communities represent Peru's main challenge for malaria elimination, but information about transmission in these areas is scarce. Here, we assessed Plasmodium vivax (Pv) and P. falciparum (Pf) transmission dynamics, resistance markers, and Pf hrp2/3 deletions in Nueva Jerusalén (NJ), a remote, indigenous community in the Peruvian Amazon with high population mobility. We collected samples from November 2019 to May 2020 by active (ACD) and passive case detection (PCD) in NJ. Parasites were identified with microscopy and PCR. Then, we analyzed a representative set of positive-PCR samples (Pv = 68, Pf = 58) using highly-multiplexed deep sequencing assays (AmpliSeq) and compared NJ parasites with ones from other remote Peruvian areas using population genetics indexes. The ACD intervention did not reduce malaria cases in the short term, and persistent malaria transmission was observed (at least one Pv infection was detected in 96% of the study days). In Nueva Jerusalen, the Pv population had modest genetic diversity (He = 0.27). Pf population had lower diversity (He = 0.08) and presented temporal clustering, one of these clusters linked to an outbreak in February 2020. Moreover, Pv and Pf parasites from NJ exhibited variable levels of differentiation (Pv Fst = 0.07–0.52 and Pf Fst = 0.11–0.58) with parasites from other remote areas. No artemisin resistance mutations but chloroquine (57%) and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (35–67%) were detected in NJ's Pf parasites. Moreover, pfhrp2/3 gene deletions were common (32–50% of parasites with one or both genes deleted). The persistent Pv transmission and the detection of a Pf outbreak with parasites genetically distinct from the local ones highlight the need for tailored interventions focusing on mobility patterns and imported infections in remote areas to eliminate malaria in the Peruvian Amazon.

An Indigenous-informed scoping review study methodology: advancing the science of scoping reviews

BackgroundHistorically, Indigenous voices have been silent in health research, reflective of colonial academic institutions that privilege Western ways of knowing. However, Indigenous methodologies and methods with an emphasis on the active involvement of Indigenous peoples and centering Indigenous voices are gaining traction in health education and research. In this paper, we map each phase of our scoping review process and weave Indigenous research methodologies into Arksey and O’Malley’s (2005) framework for conducting scoping reviews.MethodsGuided by an advisory circle consisting of Indigenous Knowledge Keepers and allied scholars, we utilized both Indigenous and Western methods to conduct a scoping review. As such, a circle of Knowledge Keepers provided guidance and informed our work, while our methods of searching and scoping the literature remained consistent with PRISMA-ScR guidelines. In keeping with an Indigenous methodology, the scoping review protocol was not registered allowing for an organic development of the research process.ResultsWe built upon Arksey and O’Malley’s 5-stages and added an additional 3 steps for a combined 8-stage model to guide our research: (1) Exploration and Listening, (2) Doing the Groundwork, (3) Identifying and Refining the Research Question, (4) Identifying Relevant Studies, (5) Study Selection, (6) Mapping Data, (7) Collating, Summarizing and Synthesizing the Data, and lastly, (8) Sharing and Making Meaning. Engagement and listening, corresponding to Arksey and O’Malley (2005)’s optional “consultation stage,” was embedded throughout, but with greater intensity in stages 1 and 8.ConclusionAn Indigenous approach to conducting a scoping review includes forming a team with a wide array of experience in both Indigenous and Western methodologies, meaningful Indigenous representation, and inclusion of Indigenous perspectives to shape the analysis and presentation of findings. Engaging Indigenous peoples throughout the entire research process, listening, and including Indigenous voices and perspectives is vital in reconciliation research, producing both credible and useable information for both Indigenous communities and academia. Our Indigenous methodology for conducting a scoping review can serve as a valuable framework for summarizing Indigenous health-related research.

Indigenous Natures and the Anthropocene: Racial Capitalism, Violent Materialities, and the Colonial Politics of Representation

AbstractIndigenous Peoples are gaining renewed attention within both policy and academia, as examples of “resilience” and of non‐humanist, non‐modern ways of relating to nature, which might, it is hoped, provide tools to withstand the socio‐ecological crises associated with “the Anthropocene”. This paper argues that such representations obscure both their own colonial foundations and the ongoing forms of racialised dispossession and ecocide faced by Indigenous Peoples today. Instead, we conceptualise indigeneity and nature as deeply entangled categories that are co‐produced with capitalist modernity. Engaging anti‐colonial and Marxist scholarship, and drawing on our long‐term research with Indigenous movements in Bolivia and Colombia, we highlight how discursive and material assemblages of indigeneity and nature are dialectically linked to capitalist processes of dispossession and subaltern efforts to contest these. We further highlight how romanticised accounts of non‐modern nature‐cultures are unsettled by the violent world‐making of colonial capitalism and the unequal burdens placed on Indigenous territories and bodies. We use an ethnographic vignette from the Bolivian Chaco to illustrate the messy everyday ways in which real Indigenous people navigate, contest, endure, and make do amidst the contradictory processes of racialisation, dispossession, and conditional recognition that characterise their positioning within colonial capitalism. In doing so, we show how thinking from the sacrifice zones of extractive capitalism unsettles contemporary debates on decolonising nature in the Anthropocene.

Family Bonds and Space Utilization in Indigenous Communities

Family Bonds and Space Utilization in Indigenous Communities

Indigenous Knowledge for Environmental Conservation: An Ecocritical Approach to Silko’s Ceremony and Gardens in the Dunes

This paper examines the belief systems and ceremonies of the Native American people also known as American Indians or Indigenous tribal groups, exploring how their primitive ritual practices contribute to preserving the environment and maintaining the abundance of nature. The study argues that these people’s traditional wisdom which is based on close observations, one-to-one contact with the environment, and the first-hand experience sharpened over millennia, empowers them to understand the self-regulatory and self-renewal patterns of the natural world and take necessary precautions for environmental sustainability. To prove this argument, the study has undertaken Leslie Mormon Silko’s two major texts Ceremony and Gardens in the Dunes for textual analysis. Using ecocriticism as its theoretical framework, the study has borrowed insights from John Hannigan’s typologies of environmentalism, and Winona LaDuke or Gerald Vizenor’s concept of tribal wisdom. The finding of the study contends that indigenous knowledge plays a vital role in promoting natural balance and social equity. The study concludes that the conservation of natural environment ensures harmony, sustainable agriculture, development, and food security.

Clustering of Gastrointestinal Microorganisms in Human Stool Samples from Ghana

The study was conducted to identify cluster patterns of enteric microorganisms with potential etiological relevance for infectious gastroenteritis in stool samples of individuals from Ghana, which is a known high-endemicity setting for infectious gastroenteritis. These patterns were compared to previous observations with specimens from Colombian indigenous people in order to assess potentially stable clustering for temporally and spatially distinct populations from high-endemicity regions. By doing so, the study aimed to identify stable clusters as markers of microbial interaction with potential importance for etiological relevance assignment in cases of multiple enteric pathogen detections. Stool samples from 1569 Ghanaian individuals (875 from HIV patients, 30 from HIV-negative control adult patients, and 644 from children &lt; 2 years of age) were assessed for enteric microorganisms by applying real-time PCR. As a result, nucleic acids of bacterial microorganisms were most frequently detected, followed by protozoa, microsporidia, and helminths. Interestingly, the cluster assessment confirmed interaction patterns known from the previous analysis with Colombian indigenous people, demonstrating a high likelihood of Blastocystis hominis for clustering with other microorganisms and a prominent, potentially mediating role of Dientamoeba fragilis for microbial interactions within the clusters. In conclusion, the assessment confirmed conserved clustering of enteric microorganisms with potential etiological relevance for human infectious gastroenteritis over geographically distinct high-endemicity settings. Furthermore, the composition of abundant microorganisms is more important than regional factors for the determination of the interplay of enteric microorganisms in the human gut. Thereby, some microbial pathogens and commensals seem more susceptible to a changing microbial composition in the human gut than others.

Socio-economic and environmental trade-offs in Amazonian protected areas and Indigenous territories revealed by assessing competing land uses.

Protected area (PA) assessments rarely evaluate socio-economic and environmental impacts relative to competing land uses, limiting understanding of socio-environmental trade-offs from efforts to protect 30% of the globe by 2030. Here we assess deforestation and poverty outcomes (fiscal income, income inequality, sanitation and literacy) between 2000 and 2010 of strict PAs (SPAs), sustainable-use PAs (SUPAs) and Indigenous territories (ITs) compared with different land uses (agriculture and mining concessions) across ~5,500 census tracts in the Brazilian Legal Amazon. ITs reduced deforestation relative to all alternative land uses (48-83%) but had smaller socio-economic benefits compared with other protection types and land uses (18-36% depending on outcome), indicating that Indigenous communities experience socio-economic trade-offs. By contrast, SUPAs, and potentially SPAs, did not reduce deforestation relative to small-scale agriculture (landholdings <10 ha) but did so relative to larger agricultural landholdings (70-82%). Critically, these reductions in deforestation frequently occurred without negative socio-economic outcomes. By contrast, ITs and SUPAs protected against deforestation from mining, but at the cost of smaller improvements in income and inequality. Our results suggest that although PAs in the Brazilian Legal Amazon substantially reduced deforestation without compromising local socio-economic development, efforts to secure Indigenous rights need additional interventions to ensure these communities are not further disadvantaged.

From Constrain to Capability: Factors Driving Tribal Women Empowerment through SHGs

In the current scenario, the empowerment of tribal women holds significant importance in confronting enduring inequalities and propelling the attainment of sustainable development objectives. Indigenous communities frequently encounter socio-economic marginalisation, with tribal women disproportionately affected by this disparity. Empowering tribal women is fundamental in fostering gender parity, given their pivotal contributions to their families, communities, and customary livelihoods. Moreover, amidst escalating globalisation and environmental crises, the imperative to empower tribal women intensifies, ensuring their inclusion in decision-making concerning land rights, natural resource management, and adaptation to climate change. Self-help groups are instrumental in empowering tribal women as they provide a platform for collective action, economic self-reliance, and community support. By participating in SHGs, tribal women gain access to financial resources, skill development initiatives, and valuable networks, enabling them to improve their socio-economic standing and advocate for their rights within their communities. Moreover, SHGs nurture leadership abilities and decision-making skills among tribal women, empowering them to confront challenges such as gender inequality and social exclusion. The paper aims to explore the perceptions of SHG members from five scheduled areas in Himachal Pradesh regarding 49 statements related to various aspects of tribal women's empowerment. It seeks to consolidate these numerous statements into groups based on their intercorrelation using the PCA method of factor analysis, to gain meaningful insights into the role of SHGs in the lives of these tribal women. The results of the systematic factor analysis using Principal Component Analysis and Varimax Rotation with Kaiser Normalization identify ten key factors. The most significant factor in empowering tribal women works out to be the improvement in skills, awareness, and knowledge. Other major factors include enhanced family conditions through better access to facilities, financial independence, and greater involvement in financial decisions. Additionally, community engagement, economic advancement, self-awareness, political awareness, knowledge of rights, and education and training are crucial components for analysing the impact of Self-Help Groups on tribal women's empowerment. By further analysing the ten driving factors identified in this study, a more systematic approach can be developed to assess the capability of these social groups to impact the lives of tribal women. This will allow for a precise evaluation of their overall empowerment through participation in SHGs.

Micropropagation of Zuccagnia punctata, an argentine medicinal plant, by means of “in vitro” technology to promove its conservation and the sustainable production of bioactive compounds

Zuccagnia punctata Cav. (“jarilla poposa”) is a monotypic argentine native medicinal plant used by indigenous communities for the treatment of several pathologies. The pharmacological properties have been scientifically validated and its potential use in phytocosmetic and pharmaceutic industry as antiaged, hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, antitumoral, antioxidant, antibacterial and antimicotic has been previously demonstrated. However, the species has a low propagation rate in natural conditions and has been included in the preliminary red list of endangered plants in category 3. Therefore, it is necessary to develop methodologies leading to its conservation and propagation to achieve its sustainable use. The objective of this work is to perform a micropropagation protocol for Z. punctata species for the sustainable use and conservation of this species. Furthermore, the study evaluated also the impact of “in vitro” propagation on the content of bioactive compounds of ethanolic extracts obtained from Z. punctata plants obtained “in vitro” with collected wild plants. Seeds have been used as mother material. The seed germination to obtain explants were performed on Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) without plant growth regulators (PGRs) containing sucrose, agar, and ascorbic acid. The same medium was employed for the multiplication of shoots. “In vitro” rooting was achieved in liquid and semisolid medium, and a higher yield was obtained in the latter. The plants were transferred into commercial substrate and acclimatized in a greenhouse. The micropropagated plants (MP) had a high content of total phenolic compounds similar to those obtained from wild adult plants (WAP) collected in the Monte Desert. The flavonoid content of MP was higher than that of WAP. The main chalcones identified in WAP, 2′,4′ dihydroxychalcone (DHC) and 2′,4′-dihydroxy-3′-methoxychalcone (DHMC) were also present in the MP with a rate 1/1, and 1/3 in WAP. The extracts obtained from the MP showed antioxidant, antiinflammatory and antimicrobial activity, similar to WAP. The “in vitro” propagation and acclimatization of Z. punctata constitutes a fundamental tool to achieve large-scale multiplication of this species in the future and the sustainable production of bioactive compounds with commercial applications. Reimplantation in the natural habitat could prevent the loss of this medicinal genetic resource.

Māori nurse practitioners: The intersection of patient safety and culturally safe care from an Indigenous lens.

Dynamic and complex health systems require innovative and adaptive solutions to support patient safety and achieve equitable health outcomes for Indigenous populations. Understanding the ways by which Indigenous (and specifically Māori) nurse practitioners (NPs) practice patient safety is key to enhancing Indigenous health outcomes in predominantly westernized healthcare systems. To describe Māori NPs perspectives on patient safety when caring for Māori and understand how Māori NPs deliver safe health care. A group of five Māori NPs worked alongside a Māori nurse researcher to explore their perceptions of patient safety. Together, they held an online hui (focus group) in early 2024. Data were analysed collectively, informed by kaupapa Māori principles, using reflexive thematic analysis. Māori NP experiences, expressions and understandings of patient safety envelop cultural safety and have many facets that are specific to the needs of Māori populations. The three themes showed: (1) Te hanga a te mahi: the intersection of cultural and clinical expertise; (2) Mātauranga tuku iho: the knowledge from within, where safe practice was strongly informed by traditional knowledge and cultural practice; (3) Te Ao hurihuri: walking in two worlds, where Māori NPs navigated the westernized health system's policies and practices while acting autonomously to advocate for and deliver culturally safe care. The Māori NP lens on patient safety is vital for promoting culturally responsive and effective health care. By recognizing the unique needs of Māori patients and families and incorporating cultural perspectives into practice, Māori NPs contribute to a more comprehensive and inclusive approach to patient safety that goes beyond westernized principles and practices. No patient or public contribution.