Overweight in Sateré-Mawé indigenous residents of an urban area in Parintins, Amazonas

Abstract

Objective To verify overweight prevalence in the Sateré-Mawé indigenous population over 18 years of age, residing in the city of Parintins (AM), Brazil, and to assess its associated variables. Methods Household survey performed in the urban area of Parintins in 2017, visiting new households in each interview, completing the census universe. Self-declared Sateré-Mawé, over 18 years of age, residing in the city for a period longer than one year were considered eligible. Overweight was considered for body mass index values ≥ 25 kg/m2 or ≥ 27 kg/m2, for those over 60 years of age. Household information on social assistance, as well as individual information such as speaking the indigenous language, years living in the city and also in the indigenous territory, income, work, schooling, marital status, leisure and transport physical activity level, and time watching television per week were retrieved. The hierarchical logistic model analysis was carried out, calculating the odds ratio and confidence interval (95%). Results A total of 174 subjects participated in the survey, 42% being overweight. Those who spoke the Sateré-Mawé language, number of years living in the city, working outside home and being married had a positive effect on the outcome, but lost significance in the final model. Only transport insufficient physical activity (OR=2.24, 95% CI=1.01-4.98) and being in the age group from 30 to 59 years (OR=8.79, 95% CI=3.41-22.64) maintained statistical significance. Conclusion Efforts to provide visibility to the health situation of urban indigenous populations in Brazil are necessary. Poor transport infrastructure in the city seems to favor transport physical activity levels as a necessity, in addition to age, which is commonly associated with overweight.