A look into the health of American Indians

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An American Indian is a person having origin in any of the original peoples of North America and who maintains cultural identification through tribal affiliation or community recognition. Over 4 million US residents are American Indians. Among American Indians, more than 500 tribes reside there. Emphasis on spirituality, recognition of the sacredness of all living things, and respect for the land and the natural world in general make them different. They speak more than 300 different languages and live on nearly 300 reservations in the lower 48 states. They are culturally distinctive and complex.

The number of American Indians who die of heart disease is increasing with each passing day. While malignant neoplasms cause frequent female death, accidents cause frequent male death. Tuberculosis, suicide, pneumonia, influenza and homicide are the other death causes. Deaths due to alcoholism are on the rise among American Indians.

Facts regarding American Indian health
Live births:

• Number of births: 43,052


• Births per 1,000 women 15-44 years: 58.4


• Percent of births with low birth weight: 7.4

Health status:

• Percent of persons in fair or poor health: 13


• Percent of persons with an activity limitation due to one or more chronic health conditions: 17

Health risk factors:

• Percent of adult men who currently smoke: 33 (2001-2003)


• Percent of adult women who currently smoke: 31 (2001-2003)

Access to health care:

• Percent of persons under 65 years without health insurance coverage: 35


• Percent of adults without a usual source of health care: 18

Mortality

• Number of deaths: 12,415


• Deaths per 100,000 population: 403.6


• Number of deaths for leading causes of death


• Heart disease: 2,467


• Cancer: 2,175


• Accidents (unintentional injuries): 1,488


• Infant deaths per 1,000 live births: 8.6

Common Health Problems

• American Indian are almost three times as likely to have diabetes as non-Hispanic European Americans of similar age.


• American Indian men and women suffer disproportionately higher rates of cancers of the colon and rectum compared to European Americans.


• The five-year survival rate for American Indian women with cervical cancer is poorer than that for most ethnic groups.


• Lactose intolerance is common among American Indians

Alcohol abuse among American Indians

Alcohol abuse is the most serious problem that American Indians face. It affects every facet of their life.

Diabetes and American Indians

• National prevalence of diabetes in adults was 7.4% in 1995.


• Prevalence among Native American adults >20 y/o ranges from 22 - 72%.


• Incidence is increasing by 14% in US general population and is increasing by 46% in some Native American populations.

Cancer and American Indians

• Cancer is the second leading cause of death among American Indians and Alaska Natives over the age of 45. (6,7)


• American Indians are among the racial groups which have the highest mortality rates for "all cancers combined" in comparison with all other racial groups.


• American Indians continue to have the poorest survival from "all cancers combined" than any other racial group.


• National Interview Survey data show that adult smoking among American Indians is the highest (40%) of the five racial and ethnic groups.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.