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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: American Indian or Alaska Native

Inequities in Availability of Evidence-Based Birth Supports to Improve Perinatal Health for Socially Vulnerable Rural Residents
Examines the social risk factors rural residents face related to maternal and infant mortality. Utilizes data from 285 rural hospitals across the United States that have inpatient birthing centers to measure the availability of maternal and postpartum supports such as breastfeeding support groups, nurse home visiting, childbirth education classes, and more. Evaluates each hospital's social vulnerability index (SVI) on the county-level to determine the level of birth support inequities in rural areas and for residents who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).
Author(s): Bridget Basile Ibrahim, Julia D. Interrante, Alyssa H. Fritz, Mariana S. Tuttle, Katy Backes Kozhimannil
Citation: Children, 9(7), 1077
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
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Life Expectancy Loss Among Native Americans During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Results of a study providing estimates of loss of life expectancy in 2020 and 2021 relative to 2019 for the Native American population. Features statistics including ratio of Native American to White mortality rates in 2020 and 2021, estimates of life expectancy and losses in life expectancy for the Native American population from 2019-2021, and life expectancy at birth and at age 65 with breakdowns by race.
Author(s): Noreen Goldman, Theresa Andrasfay
Citation: Demographic Research, 47(9), 233-246
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
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Improving Access to Oral Health Care for Tribal Populations in Oklahoma
Report discusses tribal oral healthcare access for American Indian communities in Oklahoma. Highlights the oral health disparities across the Indian Health Service (IHS) system and explores barriers to oral healthcare access for the federally-recognized tribes in the state.
Author(s): Allie Atkeson
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Engaging Tribal Populations to Improve Oral Health Care Access in Arizona
Report discusses tribal oral healthcare and proposes strategies to improve access for American Indian communities in Arizona. Highlights the federally-recognized tribes in the state and details the status of oral healthcare in the Indian Health Service (IHS) system.
Author(s): Ella Roth, Allie Atkeson
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Health Workforce Issues in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) Populations
Rapid response policy brief providing an overview of the Indian Health Service (IHS), and discussing tribally-operated health services and access to health services and insurance outside of tribal or IHS networks. Describes the representation of AI/AN populations within the healthcare workforce and offers recommendations and strategies to strengthen the health workforce providing care for AI/AN populations.
Author(s): Natalia V. Oster, Susan M. Skillman, Bianca K. Frogner
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: UW Center for Health Workforce Studies
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Northern Navajo Medical Center Delivers Care Directly to Patients Experiencing Homelessness
Video details a program initiated by the Northern Navajo Medical Center in Shiprock, New Mexico, that provides treatment to people experiencing homelessness on the Navajo reservation. Discusses the mobile clinic's goals and the services it provides, such as physical exams, vaccinations, and other acute and chronic conditions.
Date: 07/2022
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Indian Health Service
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Increased Rates of Death from Unintentional Injury among Non-Hispanic White, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Non-Metropolitan Communities
Examines the rate of fatal and nonfatal injuries in non-metropolitan and metropolitan areas, and the association with race/ethnicity. Uses information from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey public use datafile for 2018. Features statistics including estimated rate of nonfatal unintentional injuries among people seeking treatment at hospitals, deaths from unintentional injuries, and age-adjusted death rates for all causes of unintentional injury from 2014-2018, with breakdowns by metropolitan and non-metropolitan location.
Author(s): Lindsey R. Hammerslag, Jeffery Talbert, Tyrone F. Borders
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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How Increased Funding Can Advance the Mission of the Indian Health Service to Improve Health Outcomes for American Indians and Alaska Natives
Provides an overview of health and healthcare disparities experienced by American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. Describes the role of the federal government in financing and providing healthcare services to these populations. Discusses how enhanced funding could help further the Indian Health Service's mission to ensure that tribal communities have access to high-quality healthcare services.
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Population Characteristics Release Updates: Explore the Estimates, County Population by Age, Sex, Race, and Hispanic Origin
Visualization that provides detailed information on each county's age and sex structure and population by race and ethnicity, as well as total county population and median age.
Additional links: A State's Median Age Does Not Tell The Whole Story: New Census Bureau Visualization Shows Broad Variations in Age Structure By State and County
Date: 07/2022
Type: Chart/Graph
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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HPOG Promising Practice: Great Plains Tribal Chairmen's Health Board - Education, Training, & Support Services
An information sheet that discusses the Pathways to Healthcare Program (PHP) and how it used virtual learning and collaboration to strengthen their healthcare education and training offerings in tribal and rural areas.
Date: 06/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Administration for Children and Families, Health Profession Opportunity Grants: Office of Family Assistance
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