The health status of American Indian and Alaska native males.
OBJECTIVE
This study summarizes current health status information relating to American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) males compared with that of AI/AN females.


METHODS
I analyzed published data from the Indian Health Service for 1994 through 1996 to determine sex differences in morbidity and mortality rates and use of health care facilities.


RESULTS
AI/AN males' death rates exceed those of AI/AN females for every age up to 75 years and for 6 of the 8 leading causes of death. Accidents, suicide, and homicide are epidemic among AI/AN males. Paradoxically, AI/AN males contribute only 37.9% of outpatient visits, versus 62.1% for females, and only 47% of hospitalizations excluding childbirth.


CONCLUSIONS
AI/AN males suffer inordinately from a combination of increased burden of illness and lack of utilization of health care services. Programs targeted to anomie, loss of traditional male roles, and violence and alcoholism are among the most urgently needed.
Native American Prevention Research Center, University of Oklahoma College of Public Health, Room 532 Rogers Building, 800 NE 15th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA. everett-rhoades@ouhsc.edu
Everett R
ER
Rhoades
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000413:Alaska / Q000453:epidemiology; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D009026:Mortality; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012309:Risk-Taking; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D016549:United States Indian Health Service / Q000706:statistics & numerical data