Care for the indigenous Tembé child in the monitoring of growth and development: a reflection study

Abstract

Objective to reflect on health care for the indigenous child of the Tembé ethnicity, to monitor their growth and development. Method theoretical-reflexive study, based on the authors’ experiences and anchored in the literature on Tembé culture and health care for indigenous peoples. Results studies about ethnicity and culture are starting points to produce notes about technical care in relation to the child, based on those already performed by Tembé women. The care based on ethnic issues signals cultural dynamics and is placed, in health policies and in their processes, as primordial to direct instruments, technologies and actions of multidisciplinary teams, with the pertinent participation of indigenous people and/or indigenous health professionals in their development. Conclusions and Implications for Practice Equity in health care for the Tembé indigenous child requires the development of specific procedures and devices that consider their particularities, well-being, and cosmology. There is a need for approaching, deepening, and respecting the specificity of this ethnic group. By reflecting on the health care of Tembé children, it becomes possible to understand divergences and convergences with the content of the Ministry of Health manuals.