Globalization and Infectious Disease in Mexico's Indigenous Population

This paper discusses the health status of indigenous populations in Mexico. The first section characterizes the concept of globalization & its links to the population's health. Based on available statistical data, the second section documents the current indigenous populations' health status in the country. The article then argues that the presupposition of equity, crucial to globalization theory, does not apply to this case. Using the Mexican National Health Survey (2000), the third section further analyzes the health status of indigenous populations & identifies important inconsistencies in the data. The discussion section contends that these inconsistencies derive from the fact that such health surveys fail to contemplate the cultural specificities of indigenous peoples, thus leading to erroneous interpretations of the data. The article concludes that statistics on indigenous peoples' health must be interpreted with extreme caution & always with the support of social science theories & research methods. Tables, References. Adapted from the source document.