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Home > Health Sciences > JHDRP > Vol. 1 (2006-2007) > Iss. 3

 

Keywords

Alaska Natives; American Indian/Alaska Native; BRFSS; Health behavior; Health disparity; Health status indicators; Health surveys; Indians of North America; Nevada; Race and health

Disciplines

Community-Based Research | Community Health and Preventive Medicine | Medicine and Health | Public Health | Public Health Education and Promotion | Race and Ethnicity

Abstract

The 2004 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey was administered to American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) adults in Nevada to determine whether health disparities exist between AI/ANs and the state’s general population. Results showed AI/ANs were 1.5 times more likely to smoke cigarettes, 3.5 times more likely to be exposed to secondhand smoke, 3.2 times more likely to lack leisure-time physical activity, 9.7 times more likely to report fair/poor health status, and 7.7 times more likely to have a disability. In addition, AI/ANs were more likely to have current asthma (OR=5.0) and diabetes (OR=1.8). AI/AN women were 4.8 times as likely to report no Pap test in the past 3 years. Our findings suggest that Nevada’s AI/AN population face many health disparities related to risk behaviors, poor health status and health conditions, and healthcare access. Partnerships among tribal, state and federal public health systems are needed to address these disparities.

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