A COVID – 19 e os Povos Indígenas do Maranhão

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID–19) triggered by the novel coronavirus, called Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was first diagnosed in early December 2019 in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. Presenting itself as one of the biggest sanitary challenges on a global scale of this century. In Brazil, the first case of the disease was reported on February 25, 2020. In the Brazilian indigenous population, the first case was confirmed on April 1, 2020. In this initial scenario, uncertainty emerged regarding the behavior of the disease in a context of vulnerability, triggered by social, economic and health conditions, experienced by indigenous peoples in Brazil. Objective: To describe the prevalence of COVID-19 among the Indigenous Peoples of the State of Maranhão, from March 2020 to September 2021. Methodology: Descriptive cross-sectional study, with a quantitative approach, carried out through the analysis of secondary data on COVID-19 in the indigenous population of the state of Maranhão. Results: Of the total notifications, the study identified 2.079 confirmed cases for COVID–19, 55,84% of wich were female and 44,16% were male. Young adults plus adults accounted for 66.37% of confirmed cases. The Guajajara were the ethnic group with the highest percentage of confirmed cases, 64,69%. The village population corresponded to 95% of all cases. Of the 2.079 confirmed cases, 51 died, 60,78% were male and 39,22% were female. The population aged 60 years and over represented 66,66% of the total number of deaths. The General Mortality Rate was set at 1,27 and comorbidities were associated with 25,49% of the total number of deaths. Conclusion: The present research concluded that, although the Indigenous People of the State of Maranhão live in a context of vulnerability, triggered by social, economic and health conditions, wich amplify the potencial for the spread of diseases, COVID-19 presented a similar trajectory between the general population of the State and the indigenous population of the State, from March 2020 to September 2021. The General Mortality Rate of Indigenous Peoples of Maranhão had a lower coefficient, 1,27, compared to the General Mortality Rate of Maranhão, calculated at 1,42 for the period. Final Considerations: When it comes to Indigenous Peoples in Brazil, the establishment of an information system with continuous and reliable statistics, wich integrates with other national health information system, becomes something to be pursued continuously.