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FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2002

The overall health of racial and ethnic minorities improved over the past decade, according to a federal report released on Thursday, with the exception of American Indians and Alaska Natives, who saw no progress in some areas and declines in others.

Based on 17 "health status indicators" defined by the Department of Health and Human Services report, five racial and ethnic groups, including Native Americans, showed advances in 10. There were reductions in death rates between 1990 and 1998 for such areas as heart disease, car accidents, infant mortality and prenatal care, according to the report.

But while there was progress in other indicators, the same wasn't reflected in Indian Country, the report states. These included total death rates, stroke death rates, lung cancer death rates, female breast cancer death rates, suicide death rates and low birthweight rates.

For example, lung cancer death rate increased 28 percent and suicide rates by 8 percent over the eight-year reporting period. The percent of low birthweight Indian children jumped by 11 percent and female breast cancer rate for American Indians and Alaska Natives grew by 4 percent, according to the report.

"While the changes in the suicide, breast cancer, and stroke death rates were not statistically significant, American Indian or Alaska Natives do not appear to have experienced the same improvements in these indicators as the other racial/ethnic groups experienced," states the report.

"While there may be alternative explanations for these findings, such as improvement in the identification of native peoples during this period, further investigation is needed."

The report, called "Trends in Racial and Ethnic-Specific Rates for the Health Status Indicators: United States, 1990–98" is part of a national effort to identify where disparities may exist. Based on numerous state and federal data sources, it is directed at eliminating the differences in health care.

The statistics presented do show a reduction in what is called an "index of disparity." Of the 17 indicators, this index decreased for 12.

But the report's authors, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, somberly admit there isn't much to champion. "Based on this analysis relatively little progress was made toward the goal of eliminating racial/ethnic disparities among the HSIs during the last 10 years," wrote Kenneth G. Keppel, Jeffrey N. Pearcy and Diane K. Wagener.

In a statement, Secretary Tommy Thompson said much the same. "While we are making progress, this report shows how far we still have to go."

Recent health reports from Thompson's department confirm lack of progress in many areas. Heart disease, cancer and overall death rates have shown little improvement, according to the statistics.

Get the Report:
Healthy People 2000: Trends in Racial and Ethnic-Specific Rates for the Health Status Indicators: United States, 1990-98 (Statistical Note No. 23. 16 pp. (PHS) 2002-1237.)

Relevant Links:
Indian Health Service - http://www.ihs.gov

Related Stories:
CDC: Death rates at record lows, except Indians (10/11)
Thompson heads out on reservation tour (8/15)
Indian Country ranks high in deaths (6/27)
Plains men at high risk from heart disease (6/27)
Cancer deaths increase in Indian Country (6/6)