Health behaviors among American Indian/Alaska Native women, 1998-2000 BRFSS.
OBJECTIVE
Minority populations, including American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN), in the United States generally experience a disproportionate share of adverse health outcomes compared with whites. The prevalence of risk behaviors associated with these adverse health outcomes among AI/AN women is not well documented, especially for those who live outside areas serviced by Indian Health Service. We sought to describe the prevalence of selected health risk behaviors among AI/AN women, document the disparities between AI/AN women and all U.S. women, and demonstrate the efforts needed for AI/AN women to reach Healthy People 2010 goals.


METHODS
Age-adjusted prevalence estimates for selected sociodemographic characteristics, current smoking, obesity, lack of leisure time physical activity, and binge drinking were calculated using Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data from 1998 to 2000, combined. Comparisons were made between prevalence estimates for AI/AN women and all women who participated in the BRFSS and Healthy People 2010 goals.


RESULTS
The prevalences of current smoking (27.8%) and obesity (26.8%) were significantly higher among AI/AN women than among all U.S. women. AI/AN women did not meet Healthy People 2010 goals for current smoking, obesity, leisure time physical activity, or binge drinking.


CONCLUSIONS
These data highlight both disparities in health risk behaviors between AI/AN women and all U.S. women and improvements needed for AI/AN women to meet Healthy People 2010 goals. This project demonstrates the overwhelming need for culturally appropriate and accessible prevention programs to address health risk behaviors associated with the leading causes of death among urbanized AI/AN women.
Doshi
Sonal R
SR
Division of Adolescent and School Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, USA. sdoshi@cdc.gov
Jiles
Ruth
R
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004930:Inuit / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D016387:Women's Health / Q000208:ethnology*