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HEALTH DISPARITIES IDENTIFIED FOR URBAN AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE COMMUNITIES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 31, 2009

CONTACT: Maile Taualii, PhD, MPH
Scientific Director
Phone: (206) 812-3030
mailet@uihi.org

(SEATTLE, WA) — A new report released by the Urban Indian Health Institute, Seattle Indian Health Board provides an analysis of data collected from numerous sources about health disparities facing American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) living in urban areas.  Funding for the study was provided by the Office of Minority Health.  The report summarizes health disparities affecting urban AI/AN compared to both Healthy People 2010 (HP 2010) Objectives and to the general population.

The study found sixteen of the analyzed HP 2010 Objectives with rates among urban AI/AN at least three times higher than the established target rates. Nineteen analyzed HP 2010 Objectives showed at least a 50% higher rate among urban AI/AN of the adverse outcome compared to the general population.   Health disparities identified in comparison to both HP 2010 and the general population include the following: health insurance coverage, pap test receipt, post-neonatal deaths, deaths from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), prenatal care beginning in first trimester of pregnancy, suicide attempts by adolescents and marijuana, inhalants and spit tobacco use by adolescents.  “These alarming rates of health disparities demonstrate the continued need to focus attention on American Indians and Alaska Natives residing in cities,” reports Ralph Forquera, Executive Director of the Urban Indian Health Institute, Seattle Indian Health Board. “It is extremely important to ensure that these and other findings on the health of Native people are reported widely if disparities are to be addressed and eliminated.”

Also included in the report is a description of known limitations of current national data sources when assessing the health of urban AI/AN.  The report offers recommendations on how to use information for advocacy and program planning purposes and ways to improve national data collection for urban AI/AN analysis. The findings highlight the severity of health inequities faced by urban AI/AN and key health issues facing this population.

To access the report, Visibility Through Data: Health Information for Urban American Indian and Alaska Native Communities, visit www.uihi.org.

Posted in Reports.

By Maile Taualii – August 31, 2009

Urban Indian Aggregate Diabetes Care and Outcomes Audit Report 2004 – 2008

The Urban Indian Health Institute is pleased to announce the Urban Indian Aggregate Diabetes Care and Outcomes Audit Report (2004 – 2008).  Diabetes is one of the leading causes of chronic disease among American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN), and the number of those diagnosed with diabetes continues to climb.  Excellent work combating this disease occurs regularly at urban Indian health organizations throughout the country that provide a wide array of culturally appropriate diabetes services through the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI).

This report summarizes select measures collected by participating urban Indian health organizations through the annual IHS Diabetes Care and Outcomes Audit.  Information obtained by these facilities and submitted to the IHS Division of Diabetes Treatment and Prevention is used for diabetes surveillance and for helping to create a clinical picture of the AI/AN population who receive care.   The report includes background information on the SDPI, the methods used to collect and analyze the data, aggregate results, and the limitations of the data itself.  It provides a unique opportunity to identify and better understand the health status of urban AI/AN with diabetes and the provision of diabetes-related services to this population.

For more information about this report or to send us your feedback, please contact 206-812-3030 or info@uihi.org.

Posted in Diabetes, Reports.

By Rachel Brucker – July 29, 2009

WEAVING Project’s new website

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The UIHI is pleased to announce the launch of the WEAVING Project’s new website!

Through the WEAVING Project, the UIHI offers technical assistance services to urban Indian health organizations (UIHO) and state Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Programs (BCCEDP) with the aim to increase breast and cervical cancer screening services for urban American Indian and Alaska Native women.

Website visitors can download fact sheets and other project materials, learn more about UIHO and BCCEDP, and access other WEAVING Project information.  Check out the new website at www.theweavingproject.org.

Posted in Project Descriptions, Weaving Project.

By Annie Phare – July 20, 2009