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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Michael S. Smyser, MPH, Epidemiology, Planning and Evaluation Unit, Public Health - Seattle & King County, 999 Third Avenue, Suite 1200, Seattle, WA 98104, (206) 205-0560, Mike.Smyser@metrokc.gov and Ralph Forquera, MPH, Seattle Indian Health Board, P.O. Box 3364, Seattle, WA 98114.
Background: Although the majority of American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) live in major urban areas and not on tribal lands, few studies or assessments are available that document the specific health needs of urban AI/AN. When information is available, it is often scattered in many disparate sources and often does not meet the needs of local programs intended to address health issues pertaining to urban AI/AN populations. This presentation represents the combined efforts of a major urban Indian health program and a local public health department to analyze and document a broad-based assessment of the health status of urban AI/AN living in King County.
Methods: Data from a wide range of sources dating from 1980 through 1998 were analyzed including information from the census, state population surveys, vital statistics and communicable disease reports, general population and school-based health behavioral risk factor surveys, and the statewide Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System.
Results: The broad-based assessment of the health status of AI/AN living in King County documents the progress of urban AI/AN toward better health including decreased overall mortality, improved maternal and prenatal care, and decreased rates of communicable disease. Continuing and new health challenges faced by AI/AN living in King County were also observed including serious disparities in health indicators, increases in recent years in some rates and risk for serious illness and injury (e.g, lung cancer, unintentional injury, and diabetes), high prevalence of some risk factors for disease (e.g., smoking and overweight status), poverty, and lack of health insurance.
Learning Objectives: After this session, participants will be able to
Keywords: American Indians, Health Assessment
Related Web page: www.metrokc.gov/health/reports/aianreport.pdf
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.