A Vulnerable

Population:
American Indians
Alysa Hackett, Ana Hopkins, Kelli Kirschner

Definition: American Indians

The population of American Indians, also known as Native
Americans, includes the people having any origins in any
of the original peoples of North, South, and Central
America who maintain tribal affiliation or community
attachment currently living in the United States (US).

(U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health [OMH], 2016)

Demographics: American
Nations Population:
Health Insurance:
Indians
5.2 million people as of 2014 which is
2% of the population
(OMH, 2016)

Age:
32% are under age 18
Birth to age 24 makes up 42% of total
American Indian population
(National Congress of American
Indians [NCAI], 2016)

Economics:
Median Household Income: $37,353

47.5% have private health insurance

38.1% rely on medicare
22.6% have no health insurance
coverage
(OMH, 2016)

Education:
High school: 82.4% have graduated
or have GED
College: 39.7% have a bachelors

Health Disparities of American

Indians
Suicide
Mortality Rates
Alcohol Abuse

(NCAI, 2016)

Health Disparity: Suicide

The suicide rates for American Indians is 14.68 per
100,000 in comparison to the overall US rate of 11.15
per 100,000
In American Indian youth ages 15-24 the completed
suicide rate was 20.04 per 100,000 in comparison 6.8
per 100,000 in youth ages 15-24 in the US
(North Dakota Suicide Prevention Program, 2012)

Health Disparity: Mortality

Rates
American Indians are expected to live 4.4 years less than
all races within the US (73.7 years to 78.1 years,
respectively)

Heart disease, malignant neoplasm, unintentional

injuries, and diabetes are the leading causes of death
for American Indians
(U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2016)

Health Disparity: Alcohol Abuse

American Indians have the highest prevalence of of heavy
drinking among all ethnicities (12.1%)
Heavy drinking is considered 5 or more drinks on the same
occasion for 5 or more of the past 30 days
American Indians have the highest prevalence of binge drinking
among all ethnicities (29.6%)
Female American Indians have the highest prevalence of
weekly heavy drinking (22.19%) and daily heavy drinking
(27.2%) among females of all other races

Strategy for Culturally

Alter communication when
talking to American Indians to be slower,
Competent
Care
softer, and avoid eye contact
Rationale:
Speaking loud and fast implies aggression in the American Indian
Culture and can interfere with the therapeutic relationship and
rapport
Maintaining eye contact can be considered rude and disrespectful
and can be associated with soul theft
In order to establish a trusting relationship with American Indians,
who are traditionally untrusting toward health care providers,
(Richardson & Shore, 2012)
communication must remain respectful

References
Chartier, K., & Caetano, R. (2010). Ethnicity and Health Disparities in Alcohol Research. Alcohol Research & Health: The Journal of the
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 33(1-2), 152160.
National Congress of American Indians (NCAI). (2016). Demographics. Retrieved from: http://www.ncai.org/about-tribes/demographics
North Dakota Suicide Prevention Program. (2012). Native americans. Retreived from: http://www.ndhealth.gov/suicideprevention/?id=77
Richardson, W.J., & Shore, J. (2012). Veterans Rural Health Resource. Cultural Awareness to Help While Serving Native Veterans.
Retrieved from: http://www.ruralhealth.va.gov/docs/webinars/richardson-cultural-sensitivity-062712.pdf
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Indian Health Service. (2016). Disparities. Retrieved from:
https://www.ihs.gov/newsroom/factsheets/disparities
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health (OMH). Profile: American indian/alaska native. Retrieved
from:
http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/omh/browse.aspx?lvl=3&lvlid=62

Definition: American Indians

The population of American Indians, also known as Native
Americans, includes the people having any origins in any
of the original peoples of North, South, and Central
America who maintain tribal affiliation or community
attachment currently living in the United States (US).

(U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health [OMH], 2016)

Demographics: American
Nations Population:
Health Insurance:
Indians
5.2 million people as of 2014 which is
2% of the population
(OMH, 2016)

Age:
32% are under age 18
Birth to age 24 makes up 42% of total
American Indian population
(National Congress of American
Indians [NCAI], 2016)

Economics:
Median Household Income: $37,353

47.5% have private health insurance

38.1% rely on medicare
22.6% have no health insurance
coverage
(OMH, 2016)

Education:
High school: 82.4% have graduated
or have GED
College: 39.7% have a bachelors

Health Disparities of American

Indians
Suicide
Mortality Rates
Alcohol Abuse

(NCAI, 2016)

Health Disparity: Suicide

The suicide rates for American Indians is 14.68 per
100,000 in comparison to the overall US rate of 11.15
per 100,000
In American Indian youth ages 15-24 the completed
suicide rate was 20.04 per 100,000 in comparison 6.8
per 100,000 in youth ages 15-24 in the US
(North Dakota Suicide Prevention Program, 2012)

Health Disparity: Mortality

Rates
American Indians are expected to live 4.4 years less than
all races within the US (73.7 years to 78.1 years,
respectively)

Heart disease, malignant neoplasm, unintentional

injuries, and diabetes are the leading causes of death
for American Indians
(U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2016)

Health Disparity: Alcohol Abuse

American Indians have the highest prevalence of of heavy
drinking among all ethnicities (12.1%)
Heavy drinking is considered 5 or more drinks on the same
occasion for 5 or more of the past 30 days
American Indians have the highest prevalence of binge drinking
among all ethnicities (29.6%)
Female American Indians have the highest prevalence of
weekly heavy drinking (22.19%) and daily heavy drinking
(27.2%) among females of all other races

Strategy for Culturally

Alter communication when
talking to American Indians to be slower,
Competent
Care
softer, and avoid eye contact
Rationale:
Speaking loud and fast implies aggression in the American Indian
Culture and can interfere with the therapeutic relationship and
rapport
Maintaining eye contact can be considered rude and disrespectful
and can be associated with soul theft
In order to establish a trusting relationship with American Indians,
who are traditionally untrusting toward health care providers,
(Richardson & Shore, 2012)
communication must remain respectful

References
Chartier, K., & Caetano, R. (2010). Ethnicity and Health Disparities in Alcohol Research. Alcohol Research & Health: The Journal of the
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 33(1-2), 152160.
National Congress of American Indians (NCAI). (2016). Demographics. Retrieved from: http://www.ncai.org/about-tribes/demographics
North Dakota Suicide Prevention Program. (2012). Native americans. Retreived from: http://www.ndhealth.gov/suicideprevention/?id=77
Richardson, W.J., & Shore, J. (2012). Veterans Rural Health Resource. Cultural Awareness to Help While Serving Native Veterans.
Retrieved from: http://www.ruralhealth.va.gov/docs/webinars/richardson-cultural-sensitivity-062712.pdf
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Indian Health Service. (2016). Disparities. Retrieved from:
https://www.ihs.gov/newsroom/factsheets/disparities
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health (OMH). Profile: American indian/alaska native. Retrieved
from:
http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/omh/browse.aspx?lvl=3&lvlid=62