Low prevalence of anemia among Shuar communities of Amazonian Ecuador

Alicia M. DeLouize*, Melissa A. Liebert, Felicia C. Madimenos, Samuel S. Urlacher, Joshua M. Schrock, Tara J. Cepon-Robins, Theresa E. Gildner, Aaron D. Blackwell, Christopher J. Harrington, Dorsa Amir, Richard G. Bribiescas, James Josh Snodgrass, Lawrence S. Sugiyama

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: Anemia is an important global health challenge. We investigate anemia prevalence among Indigenous Shuar of Ecuador to expand our understanding of population-level variation, and to test hypotheses about how anemia variation is related to age, sex, and market integration. Methods: Hemoglobin levels were measured in a total sample of 1650 Shuar participants (ages 6 months to 86 years) from 46 communities between 2008 and 2017 to compare anemia prevalence across regions characterized by different levels of market integration. Results: Shuar anemia rates among children under 15 years (12.2%), adult women (10.5%), and adult men (5.3%) were less than half of those previously documented in other neo-tropical Indigenous populations. Anemia prevalence did not vary between more traditional and market integrated communities (OR = 0.47, p =.52). However, anemia was negatively associated with body mass index (OR = 0.47, p =.002). Conclusions: Compared to other South American Indigenous populations, anemia prevalence is relatively low among Shuar of Ecuador and invariant with market integration. Understanding this pattern can provide valuable insights into anemia prevention among at-risk populations.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere23590
JournalAmerican Journal of Human Biology
Volume34
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2022

Funding

Evonuk Foundation; Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, Grant/Award Number: DP1OD000516\u201004; Harvard University Sheldon Traveling Fellowship; Leakey Foundation; Lewis and Clark Exploration Grant; National Science Foundation (NSF) of the United States, Grant/Award Numbers: BCS\u20100824602, BCS\u20100925910, BCS\u20101340958, BCS\u20101341165, BCS\u20101650674, DGE\u20101144152, DGE\u20102011109300, SMA\u20101606852; Ryoichi Sasakawa Young Leaders Fellowship Fund; University of Oregon; University of Oregon Anthropology Department; University of Oregon Center for Latino/a and Latin American Studies; University of Oregon Institute of Cognitive and Decision Sciences; Wenner\u2010Gren Foundation, Grant/Award Numbers: 7970, 8476, 8749, 9231, Engaged Anthropology Grant Funding information We thank the Shuar for their participation and hospitality. We also thank the Federaci\u00F3n Interprovincial de Centros Shuar (FICSH), former Dirigentes de Salud Oswaldo Mankash and Favio Chinkim, and our numerous colleagues, research assistants and friends who made this research possible including: Ruby Fried; Tiffany Gandolfo; Estella, Luzmila, Katy, and Charo Jempekat; Samantha,Utitiai; Marcia Saramiento; Dona Berta and Don Guimo; Nelly Sardi; Cesar Kayap; and Medardo Tunki.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Anatomy
  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Anthropology
  • Genetics

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