Perspectives on American Indian health.
American Indians and Alaska Natives continue to experience significant disparities in health status compared with the US general population and now are facing the new challenges of rising rates of chronic diseases. The Indian health system continues to try to meet the federal trust responsibility to provide health care for American Indians and Alaska Natives despite significant shortfalls in funding, resources, and staff. New approaches to these Indian health challenges, including a greater focus on public health, community-based interventions, and tribal management of health programs, provide hope that the health of Indian communities will improve in the near future.
College of Public Health, University of Arizona, AZ 85716, USA. yvette@u.arizona.edu
Yvette
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Roubideaux
D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D006303:Health Services, Indigenous; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D015980:Public Health Practice; D012941:Social Responsibility; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D016549:United States Indian Health Service