Urban American Indians, Alaska Natives struggle with growing disparities in health

[Thunderwolf, MSN, RN]

Ralph Forquera,

director of the Urban Indian Health Institute

Cardiovascular disease, diabetes and depression are among the diseases and health conditions that afflict American Indians and Alaska Natives in disproportionate numbers, said the report, Invisible Tribes: Urban Indians and Their Health in a Changing World. More American Indians and Alaska Natives ages 45 and older die from cardiovascular disease than cancer, diabetes and unintentional injuries combined. American Indians and Alaska Natives also have a higher prevalence of diabetes than the general population, a greater mortality rate from diabetes and an earlier age of onset of the disease. Depression also afflicts American Indians and Alaska Natives in disproportionate numbers. About 30 percent of all American Indian and Alaska Native adults suffer from depression, the report said, with the prevalence of depression greatest among American Indian people living in cities.

Sadly, recent policies rob many American Indians and Alaska Natives of their right to health care when they move to cities, even though legislation and various treaties signed over the last century guarantee their right to health care, said the report.

With invisibility comes issues of access to care. Urban Indians are more likely to seek health care from urban Indian health organizations than from other clinics. However, just 1 percent of the federal Indian health budget is allocated to urban programs within the Indian Health Service, according to the report, and IHS-operated clinics are struggling to obtain the funds, resources and infrastructure needed to serve the growing urban American Indian population, even though urban Indians face an even greater risk of unnecessary death and disability.

Full article: http://www.apha.org/publications/tnh/current/Dec07Jan08/Nation/UrbanIndiansNAT.htm