Environmental Health Literacy of Brazilian Indigenous People

Bernardo Oliveira Buta (), Wauana Sheeva Costa Silva Manchineri, Matheus Britto Froner, Maria Berta Ecija, Debora Helena Rosa Cardoso and Benjamin Miranda Tabak
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Bernardo Oliveira Buta: School of Public Policy and Government, Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV-EPPG), SGAN 602 Módulos A,B,C, Asa Norte, Brasilia 70830-020, Distrito Federal, Brazil
Wauana Sheeva Costa Silva Manchineri: School of Public Policy and Government, Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV-EPPG), SGAN 602 Módulos A,B,C, Asa Norte, Brasilia 70830-020, Distrito Federal, Brazil
Matheus Britto Froner: School of Public Policy and Government, Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV-EPPG), SGAN 602 Módulos A,B,C, Asa Norte, Brasilia 70830-020, Distrito Federal, Brazil
Maria Berta Ecija: Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London, 58 Turner Street, Yvonne Carter Building, London E1 2AB, UK
Debora Helena Rosa Cardoso: School of Public Policy and Government, Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV-EPPG), SGAN 602 Módulos A,B,C, Asa Norte, Brasilia 70830-020, Distrito Federal, Brazil
Benjamin Miranda Tabak: School of Public Policy and Government, Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV-EPPG), SGAN 602 Módulos A,B,C, Asa Norte, Brasilia 70830-020, Distrito Federal, Brazil

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 4, 1-11

Abstract: Environmental health literacy (EHL) is essential for individuals to protect themselves from environmental health risks. Indigenous populations are particularly vulnerable to these risks, given the historical threats they have suffered from the advance of agricultural frontiers and impacts of deforestation, mining, and extreme weather events. This study investigates the dimensions of EHL among indigenous communities in Brazil, considering the scarcity of research in this field. Using a scale adapted to measure EHL in topics such as air, water, and food, it was possible to access the EHL levels of a sample of different Brazilian indigenous ethnic groups. Statistical analysis included descriptive methods and the Wilcoxon and Kruskal–Wallis tests. The results revealed significant variations in EHL levels, influenced by factors such as gender, place of residence, age, education, access to health services, and potable water. In addition, the presence of traditional actors, such as midwives, was identified as an important factor in the transmission of health knowledge. The research highlights the need for public policies that respect the cultural specificities of indigenous communities and promote self-care and environmental preservation, contributing to the development of culturally sensitive public health strategies.

Keywords: health literacy; environmental health literacy; public health; indigenous people; amazon; climate change (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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