Urban Indian Health Institute

UIHI staff recently conducted in-depth analysis of data on urban American Indian/Alaska Native youth. This particular study focused on youth risk behaviors, analyzing national data sources to identify characteristics of urban American Indian/Alaska Native youth and to examine disparities in health risk behaviors.

Four national data sources were analyzed: 1) Mortality or U.S. death certificate data for1999-2001; 2) Natality or U.S. birth certificate data for 2000-2002; 3) 2000 U.S. Census data; and 4) Data from the national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) for the years 1997- 2003 (Total sample=59, 839).

Study findings indicate a need for interventions to address health status and risk behaviors among urban American Indian/Alaska Native youth. The high prevalence of risk behaviors in urban American Indian/Alaska Native represents a significant disparity compared to youth in the white population. Urban American Indian/Alaska Native students were significantly more likely than urban white students to engage in behaviors resulting in unintentional injuries and violence, drug use and risky sexual behavior. Higher rates of death, poverty, school non-enrollment and teen births were also seen in American Indian/Alaska Native compared to white youth.

More resources need to be focused on American Indian/Alaska Native health if these gaps in health status and risk are to be reduced or eliminated. The high prevalence of many of the risk factors examined implies that health promotion and disease prevention activities have the potential to make a significant impact on risk reduction for urban American Indian/Alaska Native youth. Data to continue monitoring trends in risk behavior is crucial in efforts to obtain funding to support intervention programs and other action steps.