A nationwide population-based study identifying health disparities between American Indians/Alaska Natives and the general populations living in select urban counties.

Authors: Castor ML, Maile M. Tauali, MPH, Smyser MS
Publication Year: 2006
Last Updated: 2015-12-28 12:58:02
Journal: Native Health Database - UNM Health Sciences Library and Informatics Center
Keywords: Ethnic Groups; Health Services, Indigenous; Health Status; Health Status Indicators; Native Americans; Race Factors; Urban Areas; Adolescence; Adult; Aged; Alcohol Abuse; Cause of Death; Census--Evaluation; Child; Child, Preschool; Confidence Intervals; Data Analysis Software; Descriptive Statistics; Educational Status; Female; Health Services Accessibility; Infant; International Classification of Diseases; Liver Diseases; Mantel-Haenszel Test; Maternal-Child Health; Middle Age; Mortality; P-Value; Policy Making; Poverty; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcomes; Prenatal Care; Record Review; Socioeconomic Factors; Sudden Infant Death--Mortality; Unemployment; Vital Statistics--Evaluation

Short Abstract:

Objectives. Despite their increasing numbers, little is known about the health of American Indians/Alaska Natives living in urban areas. We examined the health status of American Indian/Alaska Native populations served by 34 federally funded urban Indian health organizations. Methods. We analyzed US census data and vital statistics data for the period 1990 to 2000. Results. Disparities were revealed in socioeconomic, maternal and child health, and mortality indicators between American Indians/Alaska Natives and the general populations in

Abstract:

Objectives. Despite their increasing numbers, little is known about the health of American Indians/Alaska Natives living in urban areas. We examined the health status of American Indian/Alaska Native populations served by 34 federally funded urban Indian health organizations. Methods. We analyzed US census data and vital statistics data for the period 1990 to 2000. Results. Disparities were revealed in socioeconomic, maternal and child health, and mortality indicators between American Indians/Alaska Natives and the general populations in urban Indian health organization service areas and nation wide. American Indians/Alaska Natives were approximately twice as likely as these general populations to be poor, to be unemployed, and not to have a college degree. Similar differences were observed in births among mothers who received late or no prenatal care or consumed alcohol and in mortality attributed to sudden infant death syndrome, chronic liver disease, and alcohol consumption. Conclusions. We found health disparities between American Indians/Alaska Natives and the general populations living in selected urban areas and nationwide. Such disparities can be addressed through improvements in health care access, high quality data collection, and policy initiatives designed to provide sufficient resources and a more unified vision of the health of urban American Indians/Alaska Natives.

Source: Link to Original Article.
Funding:
Code: 3007
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