Resumen

DIAZ, RV et al. Prevalence of anemia in several communities of the Nivaclé ethnic group of the Paraguayan Chaco. Mem. Inst. Investig. Cienc. Salud [online]. 2013, vol.11, n.1, pp.15-21. ISSN 1812-9528.

Anemia implies a hemoglobin concentration below the established limit values. The indigenous communities of the Nivaclé ethnic group live in the Paraguayan Chaco under conditions of extreme poverty, without health care and diseases control program. The objective if this study was to establish the prevalence and distribution of anemia in men and women of 15 to 65 years of age from the Nivaclé ethnic group living in the Paraguayan Chaco. The cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out from June 2001 to March 2002. All the healthy voluntaries present at the time of the study and who accepted to participate and signed an informed consent were included. Hemoglobin concentration was determined in 379 Nivaclé natives. The WHO considers that there is anemia in adults (from 15 years on) when the hemoglobin concentration is below 130g/L for men and below 120 g/l for women. The prevalence of anemia in women (n = 217) was 49.8% (with a mean hemoglobin of 117.67±12.16 g/L) and 33.3% (n = 162) in men (with a mean hemoglobin of 132.62 ± 11.65 g/L). The high prevalence observed, especially in women, is a marker of poor nutrition and bad health that justifies the incorporation of primary health care strategies that adapt to the culture and conditions of these communities.

Palabras clave : Anemia; Nivaclé; natives of the Chaco; Paraguay.

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