Multistate Assessment of Public Health Surveillance Relevant to American Indians and Alaska Natives, 2007

Authors

Jeanne Bertolli, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, CDCFollow
Ed Chao, Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists
Michael Landen, New Mexico Department of Health
Eden Wells, Michigan Community Health Department
John M. Hayes, Indian Health Service
Zeenat Mahal, Intertribal Council of Arizona Tribal Epidemiology Center
Ralph T. Bryan, CDC, assigned to Indian Health ServiceFollow

Keywords

Epidemiology; Indians; Indians of North America; North American; Public health surveillance

Disciplines

Health Services Administration | Health Services Research | Immune System Diseases | Organizational Communication | Public Health | Virus Diseases

Abstract

Improving the health of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations involves multiple agencies, levels of government, and jurisdictions. We assessed collaboration between state health departments and AI/AN Tribes and agencies through an online survey of State Epidemiologists. Frequencies and percentages of responses were examined by univariate and bivariate analyses. Among 39 states with federally recognized or state-recognized Tribes or federally funded urban Indian health centers, 25 (64%) participated. Nineteen had discussed public health surveillance with an AI/ AN government or nongovernment entity in the past 2 years (10 (53%) of these had ongoing, regular discussions about public health surveillance; nine (47%) had these discussions as needed). Nine (36%) responding states have a point person for working with AI/AN communities and/or agencies on public health surveillance. Four (16%) states have an active memorandum of understanding or other formal agreement with an AI/AN government or nongovernment entity regarding surveillance. To prepare for public health emergencies, six (24%) states involve the Indian Health Service, and eight (47%) involve another AI/AN entity. Functional relationships between state health departments and AI/AN agencies have not been consistently established. Strengthening these relationships will facilitate surveillance and response capacity to address continuing and emerging public health problems.

Recommended Citation

Bertolli, Jeanne; Chao, Ed; Landen, Michael; Wells, Eden; Hayes, John M.; Mahal, Zeenat; and Bryan, Ralph T. (2012) "Multistate Assessment of Public Health Surveillance Relevant to American Indians and Alaska Natives, 2007," Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice: Vol. 5: Iss. 1, Article 9.
Available at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/jhdrp/vol5/iss1/9