North Carolina Minority Health Facts American Indians
4
Major Concerns Some Modifiable Risk Factors
Cancer Tobacco use, diet, alcohol use
Diabetes Obesity
Heart Disease/ High blood pressure, diet, lack of
Stroke exercise, obesity, tobacco use
Infant Mortality Late or no prenatal care, alcohol
use, tobacco use, diet, adolescent
pregnancy
Homicide/Suicide Alcohol use, drugs, poor conflict
resolution skills
Chemical Alcohol, drug abuse, smoking
Dependency
Unintentional Alcohol use, drugs, environmental
Injury & Motor hazards, seat belt & car seat use
Vehicle Injury
HIV/AIDS Substance abuse, sexual behaviors
Sources: National Office of Minority Health Resource Center, Public
Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and
Division of Public Health, N.C. Department of Health and Human
Services
Child Health
While 31% of North Carolina’s children were minorities in
1997, 44% of child deaths (birth through age 17) occurred
to minority children. Sixty-four percent of those minority
childhood deaths were to infants under one year old.
Asthma is a particular problem for American Indian and
African American children in North Carolina. The 1997
hospitalization rate for American Indian children ages
birth through 14 years was about three times that for
White children, 382.1 per 100,000 compared to 137.1 for
Whites. For African American children, the rate was
slightly higher, 395.9 per 100,000 children.
When North Carolina children were screened for high
blood lead levels in 1996-1998, American Indian and
African American children had a higher incidence of
elevated levels of lead in their blood than did White
children. About 5.6% of the American Indian children,
6.3% of African American children, and 2.8% of White
children who were tested showed high blood lead levels.
Lead poisoning can cause mental retardation, reduced
growth and a variety of other health problems. Very high
levels of lead in the blood can cause seizures, coma and
even death. Sources of lead poisoning include dust and
chips from old lead-based paint, the dust from older types
of plastic window blinds, and contaminated soil, all of
which are more prevalent in low-income housing areas.
Risk Factors and Prevention
While American Indians in North Carolina are experienc-ing
higher rates of disease and death, in general, than
Whites, many of the risk factors are modifiable. Changing
lifestyle and behaviors and increasing access to health
services can reduce the severity of, and potentially
prevent, some major diseases and conditions.
Contributors to the racial/ethnic disparity in
health status include:
• Lifestyle Behaviors
Diet
Lack of exercise/sedentary lifestyle
Obesity/Overweight
Alcohol or drug use
Sexual behaviors
• Access Barriers
Poverty
Inadequate/no health insurance
Cost of obtaining care
Lack of awareness
Low/no availability of care
Racial/personal history or experience
Transportation problems
• Racism
• Stress
• Environmental factors
• Cultural influences
North Carolina Five-Year Infant
Death Rates by Race, 1993-97
4.8
7.2
11.7
16.1
0 5 10 15 2
anics/Latinos
W hites
rican In d ians
Blacks
Year 2000 Goal: 8.5
Infant deaths per 1,000 live births
N.C. Asthma Hospitalization Rates, 1997
382.1
222.2
395.9
222.5
137.1
88.1
0
100
200
300
400
500
Ages 0-14 All ages
American Indians Blacks Whites Hospitalizations per 100,000 population