Health Status Disparities

Every different group in American society faces a unique mix of health status disparities. Native Americans are one such group. A briefing by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR) entitled Native American Health Care Disparities detailed the health issues facing Native Americans and their causes. The briefing found that “…the health status of Native Americans remains unquestionably far below that of the general population” and “promised health care services for Native Americans have never been fully funded” (USCCS, 2004).

Some of the major health disparities facing Native Americans include diabetes, tuberculosis, mental health, unintentional injuries, major cardiovascular diseases, pneumonia, influenza, cancer, infant mortality, and maternal health (USCCS, 2004). The figures around increased mortality rates stemming from these disparities are startling. Compared to other Americans, “Native Americans are 770% more like to die from alcoholism, 650% more likely to die from tuberculosis, and 420% more likely to die from diabetes…” (USCCS, 2004), just to name a few. As a result of these disparities, Native Americans are expected to live almost five years less than the rest of the United States to only 71 years old (USCCS, 2004).

Reasons for these health status disparities among Native Americans can vary greatly. The briefing identified five primary factors that lead to disparities in health status, all of which can be influenced by some form of discrimination. The factors are:

• Limited access to appropriate health facilities.

• Poor access to health insurance, including Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance.

• Insufficient federal funding.

• Quality of care issues.

• Disproportionate poverty and poor education (USCCS, 2004).

Funding for healthcare is provided by the IHS (Indian Health Service) as part of an obligation the government has to Native Americans in exchange for 400 million acres of land (USCCS, 2004). About 1.5 million of the 2.6 million...