Health disparities among indigenous populations in Latin America: a scoping review

Health disparities persist among Indigenous populations in Latin America, reflecting systemic inequities and historical marginalization. These disparities span infectious diseases, malnutrition, and chronic conditions, necessitating a comprehensive understanding to inform equitable public health strategies. This scoping review aims to map health disparities affecting Indigenous populations in Latin America, identify research gaps, and inform policy recommendations.

Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and Scielo for studies with data collected between May 2014 and May 2024. Studies were included if they examined health disparities among Indigenous populations in Latin America, contained a comparator related to disparities, and presented quantitative data. We excluded studies on oral health, risk factors, genetic disparities, health system access, and ecological studies, as well as non-research articles such as commentaries and letters to the editor. Data were synthesized narratively, summarizing key themes.

Of 1,116 identified articles, 35 met inclusion criteria, spanning nine Latin American countries. Most studies were cross-sectional (n = 18) or cohort-based (n = 16). Infectious diseases and malnutrition were the most studied topics, consistently showing higher incidence and mortality rates among Indigenous populations. Many papers highlighted COVID-19 disparities, with Indigenous groups experiencing higher incidence and mortality. Malnutrition, particularly stunting and anemia, was significantly more prevalent among Indigenous children and women. Studies on overweight and obesity showed mixed results. Chronic diseases, including chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular issues, showed notable disparities, while mental health and cancer were underrepresented.

Indigenous populations in Latin America face a dual burden of infectious and chronic diseases, compounded by structural barriers such as poverty, geographic isolation, and systemic discrimination. Addressing these disparities requires culturally tailored interventions, structural reforms, and policy prioritization. This scoping review is limited by database restrictions, search term variability, language and time frame constraints, the absence of a methodological quality assessment, inconsistencies in defining Indigenous status, exclusion of grey literature, and a focus on disease prevalence rather than disparities in risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment, which may result in an incomplete representation of Indigenous health disparities in Latin America. Future research should incorporate mental health outcomes to provide a more comprehensive understanding of Indigenous health disparities.