New Mexico American Indian Health Status

Recommendations

1. The NM AI/AN population is affected by high death rates from multiple chronic conditions that have related risk factors. Public health activities directed at risk factors like obesity may impact multiple diseases and conditions.


2. AI/AN communities should examine alcohol use and suicide attempts among youth in their communities and focus interventions on protective factors. Further examination of the relationship between protective factors and these risk factors may help provide insight into possible interventions that focus on increasing protective factors as a means of reducing risk factors.


3. Agencies collecting and disseminating information about the American Indian population in New Mexico should collaborate to provide the most complete and useful information to tribes and tribal organizations.


4. Regular tracking of AI/AN health status should continue to assure that health disparities among the AI/AN population are diminishing.

References

1. National Center for Health Statistics and U.S. Census Bureau. Bridged population estimates


2. Birth and death files. Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics, Epidemiology and Response Division, NM Department of Health.


3. Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program (www.seer.cancer.gov) SEER*stat Database: Incidence- SEER 9 Regs Public-Use, National Cancer Institute, DCCPS, Surveillance Research Program, Cancer Statistics Branch, released April 2004.


4. Hospital Inpatient Discharge Data, New Mexico Health Policy Commission. Note: In HIDD, the race category for AI/AN is “Native American Indian”.


5. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Health People 2010: Understanding and improving health. 2nd ed. Washington, DC. U.S. Government Printing Office, November 2000.