Challenges, opportunities, and persistent inequalities in Indigenous healthcare in Brazil: critical analysis of the scientific production

Abstract

Enhancing healthcare attention to the Indigenous population is a public health challenge in Brazil. This study aims to systematize and critically analyze the knowledge produced on Indigenous healthcare in the Brazilian context. The chosen method was an integrative review of articles published between 2013 and 2023, in the PubMed/MEDLINE, LILACS, BDENF, and Index Psi databases. Ten studies met the eligibility criteria and were selected. The research followed a qualitative approach and crosssectional design, with a predominant ethnographic focus. The studies present both challenges and prospects, taking into account the efforts of the actors involved in providing care to the Indigenous population to implement a differentiated health policy that addresses the specific needs inherent to their healthcare. Among the main challenges identified in the analyzed studies are: the distance between villages and healthcare services for Indigenous peoples, communication barriers and access to healthcare, deficiencies in the training of professionals responsible for care, inadequate resources, and the persistence of discriminatory attitudes toward the Indigenous communities. The analysed studies demonstrate the need to promote progress towards an intercultural and inclusive care model that takes into account the local realities and cultural specificities of Indigenous peoples, promoting integration in care across various levels of attention.