The United States population growth rate continues to increase gradually by less than 1% per year. Over the past decade, American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIANs) population increased by 26.7%.1 According to 2010 census, there are approximately 5.2 million AIANs living in the United States representing 1.7% of the U.S. population.2 By 2050, the projected population of AIANs will reach an estimated 8.6 million.2 Alaska Natives (AN) comprise of the second largest population group in Alaska. They make up a bigger percentage of Alaska’s population than Native Americans in any other state. AN faces disadvantages when it comes to health care equity, quality, and accessibility. It is important to address health disparities in AN, since their mortality rates are significantly higher, relative to U.S. white residents (USW), in 9 of 10 leading causes of deaths in the United States. Alaska has many challenges and possible unique opportunities due to its vast size and numerous isolated rural communities to improve quality of life in the AN population. Population In 2011, the proportion of Alaska’s population identified as Natives was 19.7%.3 AN have seen a big demographic change over the past 50 years. The population has tripled between 1960 and 2010, increasing from 42,522 in 1960 to 138,312 in 2010.4 The term Alaska Native is used to refer to the original inhabitants of the land that is now the state of Alaska. Alaska’s indigenous people can be divided into three major ethnic groups: Aleuts, Eskimos and Indians. However there are many different subgroups within these major groupings. Currently, there are over 550 different federally recognized tribes throughout the United States. 228 of the federal approved tribes can be fo... ... middle of paper ... ...ov/qfd/states/02000.html Accessed January 30, 2014. 7. Martin S. Cultural Continuity and Communities and Well-Being. Journal of Rural and Community Development. 2012; 7(1): 74-92. 8. Day G, Holck P, Provost E. Alaska Native Mortality Update: 2004-2008. Anchorage: Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. 2011. 9. Alaska Native Epidemiology Center. Alaska Native Health Status Report. Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. 2009. 10. Alaska Suicide Facts and Statistics. Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Website. http://dhss.alaska.gov/SuicidePrevention/Documents/pdfs_sspc/AKSuicide Statistics.pdf. Accessed January 30, 2014. 11. Alaska: Closing the Resource Gap. Association of State and Territorial Health Officials Website. http://www.astho.org/Programs/Health-Equity/Alaska-Health-Equity-Case-Study-2012--Closing-the-Resource-Gap/. Accessed January 30, 2014
Gilbert Wergowske, P. L. (2001, October 1). Health and Health Care of Elders from Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Backgrounds. Retrieved April 26, 2014, from Curriculum in Ethnogeriatrics: http://www.stanford.edu/group/ethnoger/
Many of the inequalities in the health of the Aboriginal people can be attributed to the
American Indians have had health disparities as result of unmet needs and historical traumatic experiences that have lasted over 500 hundred years.1(p99) Since first contact American Indians have been exposed to infectious disease and death2(p19), more importantly, a legacy of genocide, legislated forcible removal, reservation, termination, allotment, and assimilation3. This catastrophic history had led to generational historical traumas and contributes to the worst health in the United States.2 American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) represent 0.9 percent of the United States population4(p3) or 1.9 million AI/AN of 566 federally recognized tribes/nations.5 American Indians/Alaska Natives have significantly higher mortality rates of intentional and unintentional injuries, chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease and chronic lower respiratory disease than other American.6
Presently, access to programs and health care services is fragmented given the nature of the health care system for Aboriginal peoples (Wilson et al., 2012). The federal government is responsible for providing limited health services among Inuit living within traditional territories and status/registered Indians living on reserves (Chen et al., 2004). This responsibility is vested in the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch organizations to carry out protection activities and health promotion, and provide funding for community health programs in Inuit communities and reserves (Chen et al., 2004). Firstly, the complexity of the health care system for Aboriginal peoples has resulted in an unequal access to health services due to the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch program (FNIHB), which only applies to Inuit and Indians. Therefore, Metis and other Aboriginal peoples who do not qualify for registration under the Indian Act do not receive health services provided by FNIHB (Chen et al., 2004). Secondly, the transfer of responsibility to health boards, communities and other authorities has resulted in unequal supply of health services between territories and provinces, uneven distribution among communities, and leaves limited opportunity for increased funding (Loppie et al., 2009). It has also lead to controversy between various levels of government over the responsibility to pay for particular health services. Jurisdictional limitations, which have failed to recognize Metis identity and rights, have resulted in health disparities among the Metis population (Wilson et al., 2012). While the federal government recently decided to include Metis status in Aboriginal initiatives, the funding has not been equitable when compared to those of Inuit and First Nations or to the non-Aboriginal populations in Canada (Loppie et al., 2009). The Aboriginal health
A major problem facing people of the United States is the increase in diabetes rates, with some of the highest rates fall upon people of Native American origin. Food, language, and traditions are three big components that define the Native American culture, but could alterations to the very components that define these indigenous people also be contributing to their demise? Many factors have contributed to the declining health of Native Americans, but most notably, changes in eating habits and inactive lifestyles are the two of the main culprits leading to the high diabetes rates among the Native American population.
Thank you for taking time to read my letter. As a nursing student of University of Technology Sydney, I studied contemporary indigenous subject this semester. In this letter I want to illustrate 3 main social determinants of health that impact indigenous Australian health which I found and analysed during my recently study. And also offer some suggestion that could help the government improve aboriginal Australian mental health conditions in the future.
According to Australian indigenous website, healthinfoNet, in 2010-2012 life expectancy of indigenous people were 69 years which is 11 years less than the 80 years expected for the non- indigenous men and women. Moreover, the life expectancy for native women was 73 years, during 2010-2012, which is 9.5 years less than the expectation of 83 years for non-Indigenous women. The reason for decreased health can be due to deficiencies in water supply, sanitation and lack of proper medical services.
Skye, Warren, Robert Schore, and Rachel Levenson. "Native Americans." NKI Center of Excellence in Culturally Competent Mental Health. N.p., 2009. Web. 1 Apr. 2014. .
Appalachian culture is more prone to certain health risks due to cultural beliefs and daily life. Death from cancer, heart disease, diseases of the lung and stroke have been found at significantly higher rate than national rates in Appalachia.1 The culture does not see disease as a problem unless it interacts with their daily functions. Health in this society is categorized by three levels: body, mind, and spirit.
Saggers, S., & Walter, M. (2007). Poverty and social class. In Bailie, Carson, Chanhall + Dunbar Social determinants of indigenous health. Crows Nest, N.S.W.: Allen & Unwin.
A long family tree of mistreatment and undue suffering in addition to present lack of resources and poverty has resulted in considerable distress among tribal members and families living within the majority of reservations today. As a result of such distress and despair, many Native American families living in reservations have been torn apart as alcohol, drugs and family violence have become rampant within their communities. Furthermore, the inaccessibility of most reservations combined with lack of resources proves challenging to provide proper housing for families. In addition, the American Indians make up a minority of the least educated, sickest and poorest people within our country. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for Native American youths in the 15-24 age group and 2.5 times the national rate.
Poor living conditions are a major health determinant throughout the indigenous population. Most Indigenous Australians are known to live in rural parts of Australia which are commonly not close to major cities and services. People living in these areas generally have poorer health than others living in the cities and other parts of Australia. These individuals do not have as much access to health services and good quality housing. In 2006 roughly 14% of indigenous households in Australia were overcrowded unlike 5% of other households (AIHW, 2009a). Overcrowded and poor quality houses are commonly associated with poor physical and mental health between the people living in them. The indigenous are n...
The authors describe Indigenous perspectives on health and well-being based on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s historical and cultural backgrounds. In the Indigenous culture, health comprises not just physical and mental health, but emotional well-being, social and environmental factors as well. Moreover, this holistic approach to health is most associated with their cultural and spiritual dimension. For instance, it is important to maintain their physical and cultural connection to traditional lands as well
These communities are also a part of the greater Nishnawbe Aski Nation. The article discusses how the funding and resources that were promised by the government following the deaths had not yet appeared despite being publicly announced. The content and theme of this article is not uncommon. There are dozens of articles that discuss how following crisis in Indigenous communities the government promises change which satisfies the general public’s outrage, but the communities never see the results. A lot of settler media also focus on mental health supports in the communities. While mental heath resources are extremely important they fail to acknowledge that the Indigenous perspective of health is vastly different to the Western or settler approach. Indigenous health is holistic and places great importance on overall wellness meaning that all aspects of their life must be healthy and balanced. Whereas the Western concepts of health is highly segmented. The failure of the government to approach this issue from an Indigenous perspective is not conducive to fixing the problem. First Nations need to have self-determination so that they can decide how to heal their communities, and it will
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Community Health Resources. Retrieved March 4, 2011, from http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/DACH_CHAPS/Default/LinksHealthTopic.aspx?topic=4#7