Sexually Transmitted Diseases  >  Surveillance & Statistics  >  Indian Health Surveillance Report, STDs 2004

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Background

Rationale for this Report

American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) health data published by the Indian Health Service (IHS) primarily focus on population estimates, natality/mortality, health care finance, and patient care utilization.^1,2 Data specific to STDs and other nationally notifiable diseases are limited. Yet, these diseases represent a significant burden on the IHS health care system and on AI/AN people as a whole.

In 2004, among all races and ethnicities, AI/AN had the second highest rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and primary and secondary syphilis (P&S).³ Improved awareness of these health disparities, through the publication and dissemination of an AI/AN-specific STD surveillance report, might lead to increased funding, resources, and research activities in AI/AN communities. In September 2004, a collaboration between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and IHS was initiated to develop such a report.

IHS Organization

IHS, an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is responsible for providing federal health services to AI/AN people. The mission of IHS, in partnership with AI/AN people, is to raise their physical, mental, social, and spiritual health to the highest level. IHS is comprised of 12 regional administrative units called Area Offices or IHS Areas. These IHS Areas include all or parts of 35 states. Within each IHS Area, healthcare facilities may be operated directly by IHS or may be operated by individual tribes (directly or through several forms of contracted services). Based on 2004 AI/AN population, the largest IHS Area is the Oklahoma City Area, which is home to 37 tribes and a population of 341,616; the smallest IHS Area is the Tucson Area, which is home to 2 tribes and a population of 34,641.

CDC Organization

CDC, like IHS, is also an agency within HHS. The primary mission of CDC is to promote health and quality of life by preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability. CDC is comprised of 15 major organizational units, which are managed through 4 coordinating centers: the Coordinating Center for Environmental Health and Injury Prevention, the Coordinating Center for Health Information and Services, the Coordinating Center for Health Promotion, and the Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases. The Division of STD Prevention is housed at the National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention, a center within the Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases.

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