Primary health care for South-American indigenous peoples: An integrative review of the literature

Abstract

Objective. To review the literature regarding the access to primary health care (PHC) by indigenous communities in South America, identifying the main access barriers. Method. Integrative review of articles published from 2007 to 2017 in the LILACS, PubMed, and SciELO databases. The search terms “indigenous AND health AND Brazil” and “indigenous AND health NOT Brazil” were used in Portuguese and English. Articles published in English, Portuguese, or Spanish, focusing strictly on PHC and on South-American indigenous populations were included. Results. Forty articles describing aspects of PHC for indigenous populations in eight countries - Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Ecuador - were included. The main barriers to accessing PHC were the difficulty of reaching the health care facilities closest to villages; difficulty in communicating with health care professionals; inadequate transportation to the health care units; lack of epidemiological data on indigenous villages; lack of information regarding local indigenous cultures; and fear of discrimination or humiliation on the part of indigenous patients. Conclusions. Studies regarding the health of indigenous populations in South America are scarce. It is evident that national health systems still need to advance towards an intercultural medicine that respects the social, cultural, and economic realities of all communities, with knowledge and consideration for different forms of care.