Food Profiles of Indigenous Households in Brazil: Results of the First National Survey of Indigenous Peoples’ Health and Nutrition

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to characterize the food profiles in Indigenous households participating in the First National Survey of Indigenous People's Health and Nutrition in Brazil. Multiple correspondence analysis was used to estimate distances between regions and foods from three sources (local Indigenous production, purchased, and external donation), in addition to "not consumed." The combined distribution of the first two dimensions revealed three distinct profiles of food acquisition. Observed proximities between geopolitical regions and distinct modes of food acquisition speak to regional contrasts in food sovereignty among the Indigenous population that are closely linked to historical occupation and economic expansion in the country. Considering the concept of food sovereignty as involving rights to dietary autonomy, healthy diets, and resource management, our data suggest Brazil's North region is the closest of the four regions analyzed to these goals. Food sovereignty in the Northeast and South/ Southeast regions is reduced due to greater monetarization and proximity to market economy resources. The advance of agribusiness in the Amazon has been a hallmark of the Brazilian government's current environmental policy, directly threatening the survival of Indigenous peoples living in that region.

Contextual Factors and Motor Skills in Indigenous Amazon Forest and Urban Indigenous Children

“…At the other end of the curve, urban indigenous children showed a high percentage of overweight and obesity (26.1%). As the present study results, data from the food and nutrition surveillance system −22.1% of overweight and obese indigenous children and previous research regarding weight status of indigenous children – showed this trend in increasing obesity [( 33 , 68 ); Fávaro et al, 2019; Ferreira et al, 2021; ( 67 , 69 , 70 )]. Changes in dietary practices, more frequent consumption of caloric, inadequate, industrialized foods, and the adoption of a more sedentary behavior resulting from the migration of these indigenous children to urban areas may explain this scenario ( 71 , 72 ).…”

Indigenous protagonism in the context of food insecurity in times of Covid-19

“…Conversely, INDIGENOUS PROTAGONISM AND COVID- 19 3 https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9865202033e200171 the percentage of overweight individuals in this population, especially among adults, is higher than the national average, indicating an increased risk for cardiovascular disease [8,9]. Food acquisition profiles of indigenous people differ across the macro-regions of the country, showing that the existing regional contrasts have a direct impact on food sovereignty [10].…”

COVID-19 and Indigenous health in the Brazilian Amazon

“…γ m is a month-by-year fixed effect to control for common shocks or time trends such as those induced by variations in economic conditions (e.g. food markets) and national policies, and seasonal effects such as those correlated with family background and other unobserved season-of-birth determinants of health outcomes ( Welch et al, 2021 ; Buckles and Hungerman, 2013 ). The error term is ɛ ijt .…”