Strengthening Maternal and Child Health Literacy in Indigenous Communities of the Upper Amazon Region, Brazil

Abstract

This community service project addressed critical gaps in maternal and child health literacy among indigenous communities in the Upper Amazon region of Brazil, specifically targeting the Tikuna indigenous population in the Javari Valley. The intervention was implemented across five villages with a combined population of 1,247 individuals over an 18-month period from January 2023 to June 2024. The program integrated culturally appropriate health education with traditional indigenous knowledge systems, training 35 community health workers who subsequently reached 342 mothers and caregivers. Program components included prenatal care education, nutrition guidance, disease prevention strategies, child development monitoring, and emergency recognition protocols. Baseline assessments revealed significant knowledge gaps regarding pregnancy complications, infant nutrition, and preventable childhood diseases. Post-intervention evaluation demonstrated substantial improvements: prenatal care attendance increased by 67%, exclusive breastfeeding rates rose from 43% to 78%, and childhood vaccination completion improved by 54%. The program successfully bridged Western medical knowledge with indigenous healing practices through collaborative dialogue and mutual respect. Cultural adaptation strategies included bilingual materials, visual learning aids, participatory methodologies, and engagement of traditional healers. This model demonstrates effective approaches for health literacy interventions in indigenous contexts while respecting cultural sovereignty and traditional knowledge systems.