American Indians and Alaska Natives

Quick Facts

American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) represented:
– 1% of the U.S. Population between 2005-2007
– 1% of new HIV infections in 2006
– 1% of all TB cases reported in 2010

 

 

HIV/AIDS

Based solely on case counts, the actual impact of HIV/AIDS on American Indian/Alaska Natives may not be apparent.  The small number of cases compared with other racial/ethnic populations may obscure the true meaning of epidemiologic trends among Native Americans and Alaska Natives.  Rates of AIDS and HIV infection per 100,000 population provide a more accurate picture of the disease’s toll on AI/AN.

In 2007, the rate of newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS cases in AI/AN was 12.8 per 100,000 population in 34 reporting states.  The newly diagnosed AIDS case rate for AI/AN was 6.9 per 100,000 population (greater than whites and Asian/Pacific Islanders) in 50 states and the District of Columbia.  The AIDS mortality rate is less than 1% for AI/AN. However, based on 2002 data, proportions of persons surviving 36 months   after AIDS diagnosis for AI/AN is lower (0.73) compared with whites (0.84), blacks (.79), Hispanics (0.85) and Asian/Pacific Islanders (0.89).

A recent study by Satcher Johnson, et al. 2009 revealed that HIV/AIDS rate per 100,000 population among American Indian/Alaska Native youth was greater than whites and Asian/Pacific Islanders.  AI/AN males showed significant increases in diagnosis rates from 2003 to 2006.  In addition, the study showed the survival of youth 36 months after AIDS diagnosis was lower for AI/AN youth, compared with white youth.  Though the study was based on 2006 data, this is an important finding.

More Information:

- HIV/AIDS Topic Site
- HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report, 2007
- HIV/AIDS Supplemental Report

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD)

Gonorrhea

In 2010, the gonorrhea rate among American Indians/Alaska Natives was 105.7 cases per 100,000 population, which was 4.6 times the rate among whites. The disparity between gonorrhea rates for American Indians/Alaska Natives and whites was larger for American Indian/Alaska Native women (5.0 times) than for American Indian/Alaska Native men (3.9 times). In 2010, the disparity in gonorrhea rates for American Indians/Alaska Natives was higher in the West and Midwest than in the Northeast or South.

Chlamydia

In 2010, the chlamydia rate among American Indians/Alaska Natives was 592.8 cases per 100,000 population, an increase of 7.8% from the 2009 rate of 549.8 cases per 100,000. Overall, the rate of chlamydia among American Indians/Alaska Natives in the United States was more than four times the rate among whites.

Syphilis

During 2009–2010, the rate of primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis among American Indians/Alaska Natives increased 8.7% (from 2.3 to 2.5 cases per 100,000 population). In 2010, 0.5% of all cases reported to CDC were among American Indians/Alaska Natives. The 2010 rate of P&S syphilis for American Indians/Alaska Natives was 1.2 times the rate for whites.

More Information:

- STD Topic Site
- STDs and Health Disparities
- STD Surveillance Report, 2010
- STDs in Racial and Ethnic Minorities

Viral Hepatitis

Hepatitis A incidence rates have differed historically by race; the highest rate occurs among American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/AN). However, the incidence rate among AI/AN, which was more than 60 cases per 100,000 population before 1996, has decreased dramati­cally. During 2001–2007, rates among AI/AN were lower than or similar to those for other races. In 2007, the rate for AI/AN was 0.5 cases per 100,000 population.

Since 2004, the incidence of hepatitis C has plateaued among all racial/ethnic populations except for AI/AN, for whom rates fluctuated. In 2007, the rate was similar across racial/ethnic populations other than AI/AN, for whom the rate was slightly higher, 0.5 cases per 100,000 population.

More Information:

- Viral Hepatitis Topic Site  
- Surveillance for Acute Viral Hepatitis --- United States, 2007

Tuberculosis (TB)

In 2010, 153 of the 11,182 TB cases reported to CDC were among American Indians or Alaska Natives.

More Information:

- Tuberculosis Topic Site
- TB Surveillance Report, 2010

Resources

Tuberculosis in indigenous peoples in the U.S., 2003-2008. Bloss E, Holtz TH, Jereb J, Redd JT, Podewils LJ, Cheek JE, McCray E. Public Health Rep. 2011 Sep-Oct;126(5):677-89. PMID: 21886328

Patients diagnosed with tuberculosis at death or who died during therapy: association with the human immunodeficiency virus. Marks SM, Magee E, Robison V. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2011 Apr;15(4):465-70. PMID: 21396204

Schneider E. Tuberculosis among American Indians and Alaska Natives in the United States, 1993-2002. American Journal of Public Health. 2005;95(5):873-880