Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #112567

Teresa N. Brockie, RN, PhD Student¹, Joan E. Kub, PhD APRN, BC², and Jacquelyn Campbell, PhD, RN, FAAN². (1) Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, 525 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, 410-675-0706, tbrocki1@son.jhmi.edu, (2) School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, 525 N. Wolfe, Baltimore, MD 21205

Native Americans make up approximately 1% of the US population yet experience some of the greatest inequalities in health status. Health disparities experienced by Native Americans continue to increase despite concerted efforts to eliminate these disparities. Life expectancy is 6-10 years less than the US general population. Over half of those who identify as AI/AN live in urban areas, yet little is known about the health status of urban American Indian/Alaska Natives(AI/AN. Urban Centers often lack sufficient health services and the infrastructure and funding to assess and monitor the status of their community. Collaborations and partnerships between AI/AN communities and universities can enhance the capacity and resourcefulness for the centers. In the summer of 2004, the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing and the Baltimore American Indian Community Center collaborated in the development and implementation of a health survey to determine health concerns, barriers to health care, opinions, knowledge and demographic information was also collected. This paper will describe the findings of this assessment which was conducted at a local pow-wow. A total of 180 surveys were completed, with major health concerns indicated as diabetes, hypertension and obesity and traditional health practices being indicated as a major need. This survey provides insight into the health needs and lack of healthcare services for this urban American Indian and Alaska Native community. The implications of the findings and the need to develop culturally sensitive and appropriate interventions to eliminate health disparities found within this population will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• 1.Describe the formation of a partnership between an AI/AN urban center and a school of nursing
• 2.Describe the self identified health needs of urban AI/AN in Baltimore, MD
• 3.Discuss the public health nursing implications in addressing the needs of this vulnerable population

Keywords: American Indians, Health Disparities

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.