title: Aging in rural, indigenous communities: an intercultural and participatory healthcare approach in Mexico.
abstract: From an ethno-gerontological perspective, new models are needed to fulfill the health needs of the indigenous older adult population in Mexico. In this paper we developed a comprehensive healthcare model, interculturally appropriate, designed to meet the needs of Mexican indigenous older adults. The model was constructed using a qualitative design with semi-structured interviews of older adults, health providers, and available health resources in three Mexican indigenous regions. An ethnographical review was carried out to contextually characterize these communities. At the same time, a comprehensive bibliographic revision was made to identify socio-demographic markers. Results pointed out that Mexican indigenous older adults are not covered by any type of social health insurance program. Their health problems tend in large part to be chronic in nature due to the lack of early diagnosis and treatment. There is a need for trained human resources in the field of gerontology encompassing the sociocultural context of the indigenous groups. The geographical location of these communities limits the permanent presence of healthcare givers and thus limits access to continuous care. Traditional healthcare givers, able to speak the native language, are a great asset allowing the invaluable possibility of direct verbal communication. Based upon the data gathered from indigenous older adults and service providers, in tandem with evidence from the literature, we identified key elements for successful intervention and designed an intervention model. We concluded that indigenous older adults are a more vulnerable group, given that aside from being elderly in a country where the health needs of these populations exceed the capacity of existing healthcare services, their ethnicity serves as an added barrier preventing their access to the limited available healthcare resources. To achieve uniformity in providing health care, today's health systems need to address intercultural and participative aspects of healthcare models.
authors: a Centre for Health Systems Research , National Institute of Public Health , Cuernavaca , Mexico.
authors: Blanca Estela
authors: 0000-0003-4755-1881
authors: BE
authors: Pelcastre-Villafuerte
authors: b Centre for Research and Higher Studies in Social Anthropology , San Cristóbal de las Casas , Mexico.
authors: Sergio
authors: S
authors: Meneses-Navarro
authors: a Centre for Health Systems Research , National Institute of Public Health , Cuernavaca , Mexico.
authors: María Guadalupe
authors: MG
authors: Ruelas-González
authors: c Mexican Infant Hospital "Federico Gómez" , Col. Doctores , Mexico.
authors: Hortensia
authors: H
authors: Reyes-Morales
authors: d Center for Nutrition and Health Research , National Institute of Public Health , Cuernavaca , Mexico.
authors: Alejandra
authors: A
authors: Amaya-Castellanos
authors: e Independent Consultant.
authors: Arianna
authors: A
authors: Taboada
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000884:Anthropology, Cultural; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D066296:Grounded Theory; D006303:Health Services, Indigenous / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D017057:Medically Uninsured; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D044382:Population Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012424:Rural Population
keywords: Healthcare model; indigenous; intercultural; older adults