Quality of life and health perceptions among fish-eating communities of the Brazilian Amazon : an ecosystem approach to well-being

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dc.contributor.authorFillion, Myriam
dc.contributor.authorSousa Passos, Carlos José
dc.contributor.authorLemire, Mélanie
dc.contributor.authorFournier, Bertrand
dc.contributor.authorMertens, Frédéric
dc.contributor.authorDavée Guimarães, Jean Remy
dc.contributor.authorMergler, Donna
dc.date.accessioned2010-07-05T12:46:36Z
dc.date.available2010-07-05T12:46:36Z
dc.date.issued2008
dc.description.abstractMercury (Hg) contamination in the Brazilian Amazon constitutes a serious environmental and public health issue. This study is part of the CARUSO Project, which uses an ecosystem approach to human health to examine the sources, transmission, and effects of Hg in the Brazilian Amazon, with a view to developing preventive intervention strategy. To date, studies have focused on measures of Hg exposure through fish consumption in relation to health effects; little attention has been given to quality of life (QoL). The objective of this study was to examine the relations between QoL and health perceptions, Hg exposure, sociodemographics, living conditions, and lifestyle in communities along the Tapajo´ s River. A total of 456 adults from 13 villages were interviewed and provided hair samples for Hg analysis. Results showed that perceptions of QoL and health are relatively positive, despite elevated Hg exposure. Logistic regression analyses showed that a positive perception of QoL was associated with the absence of chronic illnesses, not smoking, fruit consumption, residing on the banks of the Tapajo´ s, and living in an in-migrants’ community. The positive perception of health was associated with younger age, the absence of reported symptoms of chronic illnesses, and drinking alcoholic beverages. Cluster analysis revealed that the group that reported the highest QoL had a traditional lifestyle, involving daily fishing and high fish consumption. However, this traditional lifestyle is associated with elevated Hg levels and early reported symptoms potentially linked to Hg exposure. These findings underline the importance of understanding the factors underlying QoL to develop adequate strategies to reduce Hg exposure and promote well-being.en
dc.formatTexten
dc.format.extent1 digital file (p. 121-134)en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10625/44064
dc.identifier.urihttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Frederic_Mertens/publication/226512927_Quality_of_Life_and_Health_Perceptions_Among_Fish-Eating_Communities_of_the_Brazilian_Amazon_An_Ecosystem_Approach_to_Well-Being/links/0912f50f1bcfe87ad0000000.pdf
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherSpringer, New York, NY, NYen
dc.relation.ispartofEcoHealth, v. 6, issue 1, March 2009en
dc.subjectMERCURYen
dc.subjectFISHINGen
dc.subjectTRADITIONAL LIFESTYLEen
dc.subjectAMAZONen
dc.subjectECOSYSTEM APPROACHESen
dc.titleQuality of life and health perceptions among fish-eating communities of the Brazilian Amazon : an ecosystem approach to well-beingen
dc.typeJournal Article (peer-reviewed)en
idrc.dspace.accessIDRC Onlyen
idrc.noaccessDue to copyright restrictions the full text of this research output is not available in the IDRC Digital Library or by request from the IDRC Library. / Compte tenu des restrictions relatives au droit d'auteur, le texte intégral de cet extrant de recherche n'est pas accessible dans la Bibliothèque numérique du CRDI, et il n'est pas possible d'en faire la demande à la Bibliothéque du CRDI.en
idrc.project.number101416
idrc.project.titleMercury Exposure and Ecosystem Health in the Amazon (CARUSO) - Phase IIIen
idrc.rims.adhocgroupIDRC SUPPORTEDen

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IDRC Research Results / Résultats de recherches du CRDI
2000-2009 / Années 2000-2009
Research Results (Ecohealth) / Résultats de recherches (Écosanté)