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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: American Indian or Alaska Native

Indian Health Service Hospitals: Longstanding Challenges Warrant Focused Attention to Support Quality Care
Study completed in response to concerns over inadequate quality of care being provided in Indian Health Service (IHS) hospitals. Included in the report are findings from a series of leadership and staff interviews, questionnaires, and document reviews. Recommendations for improving quality of care are made to IHS and the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Additional recommendations for improving quality through oversight measures can be found in the companion report: Indian Health Service Hospitals: More Monitoring Needed to Ensure Quality Care Addresses healthcare access difficulties, health workforce challenges, and more.
Date: 10/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Behavioral Health Among American Indian and Alaska Natives: An Overview
Describes Indian Health Service (IHS) and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) programs designed to address behavioral health problems in the American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) population. Provides background information about risk factors, prevalence, and limited access to care.
Date: 09/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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CHILE: Outcomes of a Group Randomized Controlled Trial of an Intervention to Prevent Obesity in Preschool Hispanic and American Indian Children
Examines an obesity prevention intervention targeting rural American Indian and Hispanic children in New Mexico that incorporated family engagement, classroom curriculum, healthcare provider support, grocery stores, and more. The intervention focused on preschool children at Head Start centers and included multiple communities.
Author(s): Sally M. Davis, Orrin B. Myers, Theresa H. Cruz, et al.
Citation: Preventive Medicine, 89, 162-168
Date: 08/2016
Type: Document
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The Validity of Race and Hispanic-origin Reporting on Death Certificates in the United States: An Update
Results of an evaluation study showing a high rate of misclassification of race and ethnicity on death certificates for the American Indian or Alaska Native population from 1999 to 2011, but not for the Hispanic or Asian and Pacific Islander populations. Features statistics with breakdowns by race and ethnicity, geographic region, and urban or rural status.
Author(s): Elizabeth Arias, Melonie Heron
Date: 08/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Emergency Department Utilization for Mental Health in American Indian Children
Explores racial disparities in children aged 5-18 years who utilized emergency department (ED) services for mental health reasons between June 2011 and May 2012. Examines 1,545 pediatric ED visits for mental health concerns in American Indian and White populations. Includes patient demographic information, reason for ED mental health visit, as well as urban versus rural data related to predictors for repeat ED mental health visits.
Author(s): Wyatt J. Pickner, Susan E. Puumala, Kaushal R. Chaudhary
Citation: The Journal of Pediatrics, 174, 226-231.e3
Date: 07/2016
Type: Document
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Adverse Childhood Experiences among American Indian/Alaska Native Children: The 2011-2012 National Survey of Children's Health
Examines parent-reported adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and related outcomes in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) children aged 0 to 17 years to understand the causes contributing to high rates of mortality and/or morbidity among AI/AN adolescents and young adults. Analyzes 2011-2012 National Survey of Children's Health data on 1,453 AI/AN children and 61,381 non-Hispanic White children to compare race-based differences in prevalence rates and in provider-diagnosed conditions.
Author(s): Kenney, M.K., Singh, G.K.
Citation: Scientifica, 2016
Date: 07/2016
Type: Document
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American Indian Health Equity/Disparities
Describes the distinction between health equity and health disparities with a focus on American Indian health. Includes examples of factors contributing to the causes of health inequity for the American Indian and Alaska Native populations.
Date: 07/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for American Indian Resilience
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Social Factors Affecting Pediatric Oral Health in North Dakota
Presents the findings of surveys given to North Dakota children and youth in grade school through high school to determine their knowledge of, and resources to practice, good oral hygiene. Results were tabulated by race and address disparities in the frequency of brushing, the consumption of sugary beverages, and access to oral healthcare supplies.
Author(s): Shawnda Schroeder
Date: 07/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of North Dakota Center for Rural Health
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Advancing Health Equity for Native American Youth: Workshop Summary
Report of a roundtable workshop held in New Mexico that brought together leaders from a wide range of fields, including those in Native American healthcare, to address the need for greater visibility for the health disparities faced by tribal and indigenous populations, how to develop programs to address those disparities, and how to encourage support for Native American leaders to advance those programs. This workshop specifically focused on Native American youth, addressing such topics as suicide, the importance of grandparents in the lives and care of children, and the cultural resiliency of Native Americans to overcome trauma and disparities.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Roundtable on the Promotion of Health Equity and the Elimination of Health Disparities
Date: 07/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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The Role of Bias by Emergency Department Providers in Care for American Indian Children
Examines implicit and explicit bias by emergency department (ED) caregivers toward American Indian (AI) children and their parental units. Utilizes survey data from 154 providers across 5 Upper Midwest hospitals to determine bias against or preference for White or AI patients. Includes associations of the demographic variables of the caregivers with their Implicit Association Test (IAT) scores, including rural versus urban ED location.
Author(s): Susan E. Puumala, Katherine M. Burgess, Anupam B. Kharbanda, et al.
Citation: Medical Care, 54(6), 562–569
Date: 06/2016
Type: Document
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