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© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

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.

Details

Title
Environmental Health Literacy of Brazilian Indigenous People
Author
Buta Bernardo Oliveira 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Manchineri Wauana Sheeva Costa Silva 1 ; Froner Matheus Britto 1 ; Berta, Ecija Maria 2 ; Cardoso Debora Helena Rosa 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Tabak, Benjamin Miranda 1 

 School of Public Policy and Government, Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV-EPPG), SGAN 602 Módulos A,B,C, Asa Norte, Brasilia 70830-020, Distrito Federal, [email protected] (D.H.R.C.); [email protected] (B.M.T.) 
 Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London, 58 Turner Street, Yvonne Carter Building, London E1 2AB, UK 
First page
625
Publication year
2025
Publication date
2025
Publisher
MDPI AG
ISSN
1661-7827
e-ISSN
1660-4601
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
3194613392
Copyright
© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.