Carmen Junqueira

Recuperação populacional e fecundidade dos Kamaiurá, povo Tupi do Alto Xingu, Brasil Central, 1970-2003

Este trabalho analisa a fecundidade dos Kamaiura, povo Tupi habitante do Parque Indigena do Xingu (PIX), entre 1970 e 2003. As fontes de dados foram os registros do Programa de Saude da Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo (Unifesp) no Parque Indigena do Xingu e levantamentos de campo realizados em 2003. O estudo mostrou que ate 1966 a populacao Kamaiura manteve-se estavel devido a alta mortalidade por epidemias de doencas infecciosas e disputas com os povos da regiao, assim como a fecundidade moderada. Entre 1967 e 2002, essa populacao cresceu 3,5% ao ano. O nivel da fecundidade das Kamaiura passou de 5,7 para 6,2 filhos por mulher, entre 1970 e 2003, tendo atingido seu valor maximo em 1980 (6,6). A partir da decada de 1990, houve um envelhecimento do padrao reprodutivo, evidenciado pela reducao dos niveis de fecundidade das mulheres com ate 24 anos e aumento entre as mulheres dos demais grupos etarios. A media de idade ao nascimento do primeiro filho aumentou de 16,2 para 18,8 anos, no periodo 1970-2003, e a proporcao de mulheres solteiras maiores de 15 anos de idade tambem cresceu: de 6,3%, em 1971, para 26%, em 2003. Nesse periodo, o intervalo entre os nascimentos variou entre 30,3 e 36 meses. O aumento da fecundidade dos Kamaiura foi favorecido pela melhoria das condicoes de saude decorrente da queda da mortalidade, mas ocorreu sem o abandono de suas praticas tradicionais de controle da natalidade, o que lhes permitiu crescer de forma racional e equilibrada.

Dinâmica demográfica dos Kamaiurá, povo Tupi do Parque Indígena do Xingu, Mato Grosso, Brasil, 1970-1999

This article analyzes the demographic dynamics of the Kamaiura, a people of the Tupi linguistic group, which, together with nine other peoples of the Aruak, Karib, Tupi and Trumai languages, inhabit the Xingu Indigenous Parque, in the northern part of the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil. The sources of data are medical records and vital statistics from the health program of the Federal University of Sao Paulo at Xingu Park, reported regularly since 1965. The demographic measurements included are: composition by age and sex, gross fertility rates, total fecundity rates, general death rate, and specific death rate by age and sex, proportional mortality by age and sex, and child mortality rates. The study shows that the Kamaiura have been in a process of demographic recovery, showing a growth rate of 3.1% per year between 1970 and 1999. High levels of fecundity have contributed to the expansion of new generations of Kamaiura, guaranteeing the group’s physical survival. Relatively low and stable death rates have resulted from improved health conditions, which foster better survival of children, adolescents, adults and the elderly, assuring greater longevity for the population and maintenance of its social organization.

O Kwaryp kamaiurá na aldeia de Ipavu

O objetivo deste ensaio e descrever a cerimonia do Kwaryp, ocasiao cerimonial unica que reune a maioria dos povos da regiao em uma aldeia anfitria, e focalizar os principais procedimentos envolvidos na realizacao da festa, destacando as praticas voltadas tanto para reafirmar a coesao social como para expressar a ambiguidade das relacoes entre as diferentes aldeias. Solidariedade e hostilidade se alternam na configuracao do universo alto-xinguano e revelam a complexa rede politica que o envolve.

O saber Kamaiurá sobre a saúde do corpo

Kamaiura are a Tupi language people that, together with people of the linguistic families Aruak, Karib, Tupi and of the isolated language Trumai, inhabits High Xingu (MT). The cultural homogeneity among those peoples is evidenced in multiple aspects, such as shape and disposition of the villages, type of housing, alimentary habits, pubertary seclusion, paintings and corporal decorations, use of uluri by women, parties and ceremonies, such as Kwaryp. This common cultural pattern results of the long occupation of a same geographical area and of the frequency of interethnic marriages. The present work shows how the knowledge about body health is built from elements that compose the Kamaiura world vision, in which observation, experimentation and mythology unite. The paper describes the cares given to the body and the cultural and spiritual rules regarding the different stages of the vital cycle.

Demographic dynamics of the Kamaiurá, a Tupi people living in the Xingu Indigenous Park, in Mato Grosso, Brazil, 1970-1999

This article analyzes the demographic dynamics of the Kamaiura, a people of the Tupi linguistic group, which, together with nine other peoples of the Aruak, Karib, Tupi and Trumai languages, inhabit the Xingu Indigenous Parque, in the northern part of the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil. The sources of data are medical records and vital statistics from the health program of the Federal University of Sao Paulo at Xingu Park, reported regularly since 1965. The demographic measurements included are: composition by age and sex, gross fertility rates, total fecundity rates, general death rate, and specific death rate by age and sex, proportional mortality by age and sex, and child mortality rates. The study shows that the Kamaiura have been in a process of demographic recovery, showing a growth rate of 3.1% per year between 1970 and 1999. High levels of fecundity have contributed to the expansion of new generations of Kamaiura, guaranteeing the group’s physical survival. Relatively low and stable death rates have resulted from improved health conditions, which foster better survival of children, adolescents, adults and the elderly, assuring greater longevity for the population and maintenance of its social organization.

Dinámica demográfica de los Kamaiurá, pueblo Tupí del Parque Indígena del Xingu, Mato Grosso, Brasil, 1970-1999

This article analyzes the demographic dynamics of the Kamaiura, a people of the Tupi linguistic group, which, together with nine other peoples of the Aruak, Karib, Tupi and Trumai languages, inhabit the Xingu Indigenous Parque, in the northern part of the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil. The sources of data are medical records and vital statistics from the health program of the Federal University of Sao Paulo at Xingu Park, reported regularly since 1965. The demographic measurements included are: composition by age and sex, gross fertility rates, total fecundity rates, general death rate, and specific death rate by age and sex, proportional mortality by age and sex, and child mortality rates. The study shows that the Kamaiura have been in a process of demographic recovery, showing a growth rate of 3.1% per year between 1970 and 1999. High levels of fecundity have contributed to the expansion of new generations of Kamaiura, guaranteeing the group’s physical survival. Relatively low and stable death rates have resulted from improved health conditions, which foster better survival of children, adolescents, adults and the elderly, assuring greater longevity for the population and maintenance of its social organization.