INTRODUCTION
The People
Over 4 million
residents of the United States can claim American Indian or Alaska
Native ancestry, in whole or in part. 1
Though far from a homogeneous population, with over 500 tribes, most
American Indians are drawn together by core values such as an emphasis
on spirituality, a recognition of the sacredness of all living things,
and respect for the land and the natural world in general. 2
The many American Indian subpopulations are culturally distinctive,
diverse, and complex; they are living on nearly 300 reservations
in the lower 48 states, and speak more than 300 different languages.
3
Their Health
The American Indians'
diversity, coupled with their small population groups scattered
throughout the United States, has made it difficult to provide a
uniform, readily accessible health care system. Heart disease is
the leading cause of death among American Indians, with malignant
neoplasms the second most frequent cause among females and accidents
the second most frequent cause among males. 4 Recent statistics
show Native Americans 2.6 times more likely to have diabetes mellitus
as non-Hispanic whites of similar age. Other causes of greater than
average mortality include tuberculosis, suicide, pneumonia, influenza
and homicide. Finally, deaths attributable to alcoholism are also
alarmingly high among American Indians. 5
This Site
This Web resource on
American Indian Health, sponsored by the National Library of Medicine,
is designed to bring together health and medical resources pertinent
to the American Indian population including policies, consumer health
information, and research. Links are provided here to an assortment
of documents, Web sites, databases, and other resources.
1 The Census
2000 Brief on American Indian and Alaska Native Population
2 Federally Recognized Indian Tribes, Federal
Register, March 13, 2000
3 Native Americans: Women of Color Health
Data Book
4 Trends in Indian Health 1998-99
5 Diabetes in American Indians and Alaska
Natives (NIDDK)
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