Indian Health Disparities.pdf

The Indian Health Service (IHS), a division of the Department of Health and Human Services, provides comprehensive health services to approximately 2.2 million American Indians and Alaska Natives, who are members of 573 federally recognized tribes or their descendants. The IHS aims for maximum tribal involvement in meeting the health needs of its service population, predominantly living on or near reservations and in rural communities, mainly in the western United States and Alaska.

American Indians and Alaska Natives face significant health disparities compared to other Americans. Factors contributing to these disparities include inadequate education, disproportionate poverty, discrimination in healthcare delivery, and cultural differences. The leading causes of death among this population between 2009 and 2011 were diseases of the heart, cancer, unintentional injuries, and diabetes. The life expectancy of American Indians and Alaska Natives is 5.5 years less than the U.S. all races population (73.0 years vs. 78.5 years).

Mortality rates for American Indians and Alaska Natives in the IHS service area (2009-2011) compared to the U.S. all races (2010) show higher rates for all causes (1.3 times), accidents (2.5 times), diabetes (3.2 times), alcohol-induced causes (6.6 times), chronic liver disease and cirrhosis (4.6 times), and assault (homicide) (2.1 times). The IHS is addressing these disparities by examining factors impacting Indian health, including funding adequacy for the Indian health care delivery system.