Physical inactivity in urban indigenous populations in South America

a systematic review

Abstract

Although physical inactivity is related to the increased risk of chronic noncommunicable diseases, there is little published research on indigenous populations health conditions while living in urban areas in South America. The present study conducted a systematic review investigating the theme of physical inactivity in indigenous populations living in urban area in South America, identifying the prevalences, the instrument used for measurement and the country of publication. A search was carried out in the databases: Medline / PubMed, Embase, ERIC, PsycInfo, Scopus, Web of Science, Scielo, as well as in theses and dissertations database, considering defined descriptors. Inclusion criteria were: study with primary or secondary population data, with indigenous populations residing in an urban area in a South American country, published between 2008 and 2018. We analyzed 5 records in full and treated indigenous populations in Brazil, with physical inactivity prevalence ranging from 28.8% to 64.5% of the population, collected through various questionnaires. In 3 studies, the measured physical inactivity was greater than what was recorded in the National Health Survey for the urban non-indigenous population in Brazil in 2013. Limitations in the generalization of study data and the diversity of measurement instruments should be considered. The theme of physical inactivity in indigenous populations in an urban area is recent and necessary for a new concept of indigenous health that considers this portion of the population that lives in urban areas. We suggest that future studies cover the Caribbean and Central America countries in particular.

Keywords: Physical Exercise. Indigenous Peoples. South America.