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Last Reviewed: November 26, 2008
Last Modified: November 26, 2008
Content Source:
Office of Minority Health & Health Disparities (OMHD) |
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Highlights in Minority Health
& Health Disparities
November, 2008
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~ A Native Prescription:
Balancing Mind, Body, & Spirit ~
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NOVEMBER 2008 IS AMERICAN INDIAN
/ ALASKA NATIVE (AI/AN) HERITAGE
MONTH |
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This Heritage Month honors the many contributions
and accomplishments of American Indians and Alaska Natives. During
November, we remember the legacy of the first Americans and
celebrate their vibrant and living traditions.1 During this month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
will join with other Federal departments and agencies, local
government offices, national and local organizations, and interested
individuals to recognize American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN)
contributions to the development and history of the United States.2
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The Census Bureau estimates that 4.5 million people are American
Indian or Alaska Native alone or in combination with one or more
other races as of July 1, 2007, making up 1.5% of the total
population.3 |
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EXAMPLES
OF IMPORTANT HEALTH DISPARITIES |
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A variety of health disparities affect AI/AN communities:2 |
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In 2004, AI/ANs had the
2nd highest rate of Infant Deaths of all racial/ethnic groups (8.4 per 1,000),
1.24 times higher than the rate for all populations (6.8 per 1,000),
and 1.8 times higher than the rate for Asian Americans and Pacific
Islanders (4.7), the group with the lowest Infant death rate.4 |
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After African Americans, AI/ANs had the highest diabetes death rate
in 2005 (41.5 per 100,000 population), 1.7 times higher than the
rate for all populations (24.6 per 100,000), and 2.5 times higher
than the rate for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (16.6).5 |
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In 2005, AI/ANs had the highest death rate from Chronic Liver
Disease and Cirrhosis (22.6 per 100,000), more than 2.5 times higher than the
rate for all populations (9.0 per 100,000) 6.3 times higher than the
rate for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (3.6).5 |
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In 2005, AI/ANs were 1.4 times more likely to die from unintentional
injuries (54.7 per 100,000) compared to all races combined (39.1 per
100,000). AI/ANs were 1.6 times more likely to die from a motor
vehicle injury (24.8 per 100,000) compared to all populations
combined (15.2 per 100,000).6 |
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In 2006, the rate of Gonorrhea among AI/ANs was 138.3 per 100,000
population, more than 6.5 times higher than the rate among Asian
Americans and Pacific Islanders, the group with the lowest rate
(21.1).7 |
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The rate of Chlamydia among AI/ANs
was 797.3 per 100,000, more than 6 times
higher than the rate among sian Americans and Pacific Islanders,
the group with the lowest rate (132.1).8. |
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In 2005, the estimated rate of AIDS diagnoses for American Indian and Alaska
Native adults and adolescents was 10.4 per 100,000 persons, the 3rd
highest rate after those for African American adults and adolescents
(71.3 per 100,000) and Hispanic adults and adolescents (27.8 per
100,000). The estimated AIDS diagnosis rate was 8.8 per 100,000 for
white adults and adolescents and 7.4 per 100,000 for Asian and
Pacific Islander adults and adolescents.9 |
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PROGRAMS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS |
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To address these disparities, CDC and ATSDR work with tribal
governments, tribal organizations, urban Indian health centers, IHS,
and other partners to establish and increase partnerships, increase
collaborations, and provide funding and technical assistance.2 |
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Since Fiscal Year 2006, CDC and ATSDR have begun implementing
their
Tribal Consultation Policy (TCP) that provides agency guidance
for working effectively with AI/AN communities and organizations, as
well as enhancing AI/AN access to CDC and ATSDR programs. The
policy identifies when CDC programs should involve Tribal leaders
and outlines specific responsibilities regarding program activities,
including mutual participation in setting program and budget
priorities. CDC and ATSDR also commit professional staff to
positions in Indian country and work with the Indian Health Service
(IHS) to strengthen AI/AN public health infrastructure and capacity. |
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The
CDC/ATSDR Tribal
Consultation Advisory Committee (TCAC) was established in
October 2006 and has continued to meet on a quarterly basis with two
of these TCAC meeting being held in conjunction with CDC Biannual
Tribal Consultation Sessions. Only one meeting of the TCAC is held
at CDC headquarters in Atlanta with the other three and a
Consultation Session being hosted by a tribe and/or tribal
organization somewhere in Indian country. These meetings are
critical to help build and
strengthen connectivity and partnerships between CDC and tribal
nations. The TCAC provides a complementary venue wherein
tribal representatives and CDC staff will exchange information about
public health issues in Indian country, identify urgent public
health needs in AI/AN communities, and discuss collaborative
approaches to addressing these issues and needs. TCAC is
assisting CDC to plan their upcoming Tribal Consultation Sessions. |
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FOR MORE INFORMATION |
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) |
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CDC's
Office of Minority Health & Health Disparities (OMHD) |
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American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) Populations |
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American Indian & Alaska Native
National,
Regional &
Local Health Boards List |
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Tribal Epidemiology Centers |
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CDC's
Tribal Consultation Policy |
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Tribal Consultation
Advisory Committee (TCAC) |
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2nd Biannual Tribal Consultation Session
November 18-20, 2008
Tucson, Arizona |
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569 American Indian/Alaska Native Tribes |
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Smoking and Tobacco Use |
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American Indians and Alaska Natives and Tobacco |
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ATSDR Office of Tribal Affairs |
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Indian Health Service (IHS) |
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IHS Heritage Site |
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White House Presidential Proclamation |
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White House Executive Order 13270: Tribal Colleges and Universities |
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U.S. Census Bureau Facts on the AI/AN Population |
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Bureau of Indian Affairs |
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FirstGov for Tribal Governments and American Indians |
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National Council of Urban Indian Health |
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Social Security Online: American Indians and Alaska Natives |
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Healthfinder: American Indians and Alaska Natives |
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Medline Plus: Native American Health |
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Administration on Aging (AoA) |
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American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians |
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Rural Aging |
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Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
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American Diabetes Association: Native Americans |
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National Indian Council On Aging (NICOA) |
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National Indian Health Board (NIHB) |
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National Native American AIDS Prevention Center (NNAAPC) |
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SOURCES |
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1. |
The White House, National American Indian Heritage
Month, 2007 |
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2. |
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities (OMHD),
Highlights in Minority Health, November
2007 |
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3. |
U.S. Census Bureau, Facts for Features:American
Indian / Alaska Native Heritage Month: November 2008 |
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4. |
CDC, NCHS, Health, United States,
2007, table 19 (PDF) |
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5. |
CDC, NCHS, Health, United States,
2007, table 29
(PDF) |
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6. |
CDC, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
(NCIPC),Web-based
Injury statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS), 2004 |
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7. |
CDC, National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention
(NCHSTP),
STD Surveillance 2006; table 21b,
Gonorrhea - Rates per 100,000 population
by race/ethnicity, age group & sex: US, 2002-2006 |
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8. |
CDC, National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention
(NCHSTP),
STD Surveillance 2006;
table 11b, Chlamydia - Rates
per 100,000 population by race/ethnicity, age group & sex: US,
2002-2006 |
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9. |
CDC, NCHSTP,
HIV/AIDS Among American Indians and Alaska Natives, 2008 |
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