Asthma, migraines, and mental retardation all affect a significantly greater percentage of American Indian children with special health care needs (CSHCN) than their white counterparts, according to an analysis completed by MSW students Electa Hare and Amanda Blackhorse, with guidance from Assistant Professor Paul Shattuck.  

Historically, very little research has documented the prevalence and health status of children with special health care needs who are American Indian/Alaskan Native, a socioeconomically disadvantaged ethnic group where even typically developing children tend to have elevated rates of health problems.

Hare, Blackhorse, and Shattuck analyzed data collected within the 2005-2006 National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs, a nationally representative telephone survey of households with a child age 0-17 with significant health problems. They examined data from seven states where the American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/IN) population is over 5%. 

The students presented their findings in Denver, Colorado at the 2009 Indian Health Summit, a national gathering of Indian Health professionals, community health advocates and activists, and Tribal leadership. Hare and Blackhorse presented their data with the aim of providing baseline information to aid in the development and evaluation of services for this vulnerable population.

The research, which was supported by the Brown School’s Kathryn M. Buder Center for American Indian Studies, suggests that the high prevalence rates of problems with health and functioning indicate more resources need to be allocated to serve this population. 

“If we as researchers are cognizant of health disparities, perhaps we can contribute to social policy that positively honors the federal trust relationship of sovereign Indian nations”, said Hare. “We can develop a better awareness of the way we approach research in terms of social, economic, political efforts.”

Key findings

Three health conditions are notably more prevalent among AI/AN CSHCN than among white CSHCN:

• Asthma affects 45% of AI/AN CSHCN, 8% more than whites.
• Migraine and other headaches affect 21% of AI/AN CSHCN, 5% more than whites.
• Mental retardation affects 16% of AI/AN CSHCN, 5% more than whites.

In the seven states analyzed, three functional limitations are especially prevalent among AI/AN CSHCN:

• Learning and attention difficulties occurred in 48% of AI/AN children with SHCN, 8% more than whites.
• 41% of AI/AN exhibit behavioral problems, 13% more than white CSHCN.
• 33% of American Indian CSHCN experienced difficulties with communication and speaking, compared to 20% of whites.
• It is important to note that these results are based on pooled data from seven states where AI/AN populations were greater than 5% and are not nationally representative estimates.

There were no conditions where American Indian/Alaskan Native CSHCN had a significantly lower prevalence compared to whites.