Impact of immunizations on the disease burden of American Indian and Alaska native children.
American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people have suffered disproportionately from infectious diseases compared with the general US population. As recently as 25 years ago, rates of hepatitis A and B virus, Haemophilus influenzae type b, and Streptococcus pneumoniae infections were as much as 10 times higher among AI/AN children compared with the general US child population. In the past quarter century, routine use of childhood immunizations for hepatitis A and B viruses has eliminated disease disparities for these pathogens in AI/AN children, and significant decreases have been demonstrated for H influenzae type b, S pneumoniae, and pertussis. Nevertheless, certain infectious diseases continue to occur at higher rates in AI/AN children. The reason for continued disparities is most likely related to adverse living conditions such as household crowding, lack of indoor plumbing, poverty, and poor indoor air quality. Although tremendous strides have been made in eliminating disparities in infectious disease among AI/AN children, further gains will require addressing disparities in adverse living conditions.
Alaska Native Tribal Consortium, Arctic Investigations Program, National Center for Preparedness, Detection, and Control of Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4055 Tudor Centre Dr, Anchorage, Alaska 99508, USA. ris2@cdc.gov
Rosalyn
R
Singleton
Steve
S
Holve
Amy
A
Groom
Brian J
BJ
McMahon
Mathu
M
Santosham
George
G
Brenneman
Katherine L
KL
O'Brien
D002648:Child; D017281:Cost of Illness; D004165:Diphtheria / Q000453:epidemiology; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D019741:Haemophilus influenzae type b; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007198:Indians, North American; D007239:Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004930:Inuit; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors