Medicalization and Indigenous Health: An analysis of the consumption of psychotropics by the Xukuru de Cimbres indigenous people

Barbosa, Valquiria Farias Bezerra; Cabral, Luana Beserra; Alexandre, Ana Carla Silva

doi:10.1590/1413-81232018248.22192017

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FREE THEMES • Ciênc. saúde coletiva 24 (8) • Aug 2019 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232018248.22192017 copy

Medicalization and Indigenous Health: An analysis of the consumption of psychotropics by the Xukuru de Cimbres indigenous people

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the process of medicalization among the Xukuru indigenous people of Pesqueira (PE), Brazil following the 2003 conflict. Method: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional, quantitative study developed with the indigenous attended at the Xukuru de Cimbres basic center. The final sample consisted of 75 individuals who used psychotropic drugs. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 18.0, using the chi-square test. Results and Discussion: We observed that 8% of the studied population use psychotropic drugs, and the most used is BZD (78.67%). Regarding age, 68% are young adults and 26.67% are elderly. The income of 81.33% of households is more than one minimum wage. As for marital status, 50.85% and 66.67%, respectively of the indigenous group using BZD and other psychotropic drugs are married. Conclusion: The study outlined the profile of the Xukuru de Cimbres indigenous people who used psychotropics and showed a fragmented mental health care focused on the disease and the use of medication. Results reveal a socioeconomically vulnerable adult population, a pattern of chronic use of psychotropic drugs and distancing from traditional indigenous healing, typical of the health medicalization process.

Key words
Mental health; Indigenous health; Traditional medicine; Medicalization

Variables	Benzodiazepines nº (%)	Antidepressants nº (%)	Other Psychotropic nº (%)	P
Age
Less than 18 years	0 (0)	1 (7,69)	1 (33,33)	0,007
Between 19 and 29 years	1 (1,70)	1 (7,69)	0 (0)
Between 30 and 59 years	43 (72, 88)	6 (46,15)	2 (66,67)
60 years or more	15 (25,42)	5 (38,47)	0 (0)
Income
< 1 minimum wage	9 (15,25)	3 (23,08)	2 (66, 67)	0,075
> 1 minimum wage	50 (84,75)	10 (76,92)	1 (33,33)	0,075
Marital Status
Single	15 (25,42)	2 (15,38)	0 (0)	0,085
Married	30 (50,85)	3 (23,08)	2 (66, 67)
Other	14 (23,72)	8 (61,54)	1 (33,33)
Sex
Male	16 (27,12)	1 (7,69)	0 (0)	0, 201
Female	43 (72,88)	12 (92,31)	3 (100)
Total	59 (100)	13 (100)	3 (100)

Variables	Benzodiazepines nº (%)	Antidepressants nº (%)	Other nº (%)	P
Inhabitants per Household
Between 1 and 2	21 (35,59)	2 (15,38)	1 (33,33)	0,431
Between 3 and 5	29 (49,15)	10 (76,92)	2 (66,67)
More than 5	9 (15,25)	1 (7,69)	0 (0)
Total	59 (100)	13 (100)	3 (100)
Number of Children
None	14 (23,72)	1 (7,69)	1 (33,33)
Between 1 and 2	22 (37,28)	6 (46,15)	2 (66,67)	0,461
More than 2	23 (38,98)	6 (46,15)	0 (0)
Total	59 (100)	13 (100)	3 (100)
Home Ownership
Home owners	52 (88,13)	12 (92,30)	2 (66,67)	0,467
Rented house	7 (11,86)	1 (7,69)	1 (33,33)
Total	59 (100)	13 (100)	3 (100)
Profession
Family farming	16 (27,11)	2 (15,38)	1 (33,33)	0,949
Retired	18 (30,50)	4 (30,67)	1 (33,33)
None	11 (18,64)	3 (23,07)	0 (0)
Other	14 (23,72)	4 (30,67)	1 (33,33)
Total	59 (100)	13 (100)	3 (100)

Variable	Medicamentous Therapy
Variable	Benzodiazepines nº (%)	Antidepressants nº (%)	Other nº (%)	P
Other therapy
Only the prescribed medication	31 (52,54)	4 (30,76)	2 (66,67)
Indigenous traditional healing practices	10 (16,94)	2 (15,38)	0 (0)	0,492
Psychological accompanimenton DSEI	18 (30,50)	7 (53,84)	1 (33,33)	0,492
Search for thes haman				0, 564
Yes	4 (6,77)	0 (0)	0
No	55 (93,22)	13 (100)	3 (100)
Time of use
Less than 1 year	2 (33,89)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0,761
Between 1 and 2 years	8 (13,55)	3 (23,07)	1 (33,33)
More than 2 years	49 (83,05)	10 (76,92)	2 (66,67)
Total	59 (100)	13 (100)	3 (100)

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[1] Collaborators

LB Cabral and VFB Barbosa were responsible for the design of the research. ACS Alexandre was responsible for planning data collection and quantitative analysis. All authors participated collaboratively in the development of the research and paper drafting.