Health status of American Indians compared with other racial/ethnic minority populations--selected states, 2001-2002.

Despite overall declines in morbidity and mortality in the United States in recent years, a persistent gap in health status remains between American Indians (AIs) and non-Hispanic whites. This report compares the health status of AIs with that of other racial/ethnic minority populations by using data from a survey conducted during 2001-2002 in 21 communities through the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) 2010 project. The results indicate that although AIs had a higher prevalence of chronic disease risk factors than other racial/ethnic minority populations, they also were more likely to use preventive services. Culturally sensitive primary prevention strategies to reduce risk factors and disease burden in AI communities should be developed and implemented.