Critical review of social, environmental and health risk factors in the Mexican indigenous population and their capacity to respond to the COVID-19

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 733; p. 139357
• Main Authors: Díaz de León-Martínez, Lorena, de la Sierra-de la Vega, Luz, Palacios-Ramírez, Andrés, Rodriguez-Aguilar, Maribel, Flores-Ramírez, Rogelio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.09.2020
• Subjects: Betacoronavirus; Comorbidity; Coronavirus Infections - ethnology; COVID-19; Health Status Disparities; Humans; Indigenous people; Indigenous Peoples; Mexico; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral - ethnology; Risk Factors; SARS-CoV-2; Social, environmental and health risk factors; Vulnerability; Vulnerable Populations; Mexico; COVID-19; Mexico; Vulnerability; Social, environmental and health risk factors; Indigenous people
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139357

The objective of this study was to conduct a critical analysis of the social, environmental and health risk factors in the Mexican indigenous population in the context of the COVID-19 disease pandemic, and to propose strategies to mitigate the impacts on these communities. Regarding social factors, we identified the return of indigenous people to their communities, poor access to water, language barriers, and limited access to the Internet, as factors that will not allow them to take the minimum preventive measures against the disease. Additionally, environmental risk factors associated with pollutants from biomass burning were identified. In health, the lack of coverage in these areas and comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, respiratory tract infections, and chronic pulmonary diseases were identified. Some existing government programmes were identified that could be supported to address these social, environmental and health gaps. We believe that the best way to address these issues is to strengthen the health system with a community-based approach. Health is the best element of cohesion for inserting development and progress proposals in indigenous communities, given the vulnerability to which they are exposed in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this review, all information is provided (as possible) on risk factors and potential solutions in indigenous communities in the hope of providing solutions to this pandemic and providing a reference for future studies. [Display omitted] •Covid-19 is a pandemic disease•Indigenous populations are more vulnerable to COVID-19 due to social, environmental and health factors.•A health system with a community-based scheme must be strengthened.•Mexico has government programmes that could be reorganized to meet the needs of the indigenous population.