Authors: Rhoades DA, Buchwald D, Manson SM, Noonan C

Publication Year: 2005

Last Updated: 2016-01-20

Journal: Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved 

Keywords: urban indians, transition, mobility, health related characteristics, reservation, low-income, sociodemographic, multivariate, identification, self identity, identity, north american, inuit, primary health care, urban population

Abstract:

The objectives of this study were to ascertain the extent of, and health-related characteristics associated with, travel to reservations in a low-income, urban American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) population. We surveyed more than 500 AI/AN adults at a primary care clinic. Measures included time spent visiting a reservation during the past year, and sociodemographic, cultural, and clinical characteristics. More than half (52%) of the patients had not traveled, 34% had traveled up to 30 days, and 14% had spent more than 30 days traveling to reservations. Multivariate ordinal regression revealed that a strong Native American cultural identification, presence of lung disease, absence of thyroid and mental problems, and greater dissatisfaction with care were independently associated with more travel to reservations (p ? 0.05). This research begins to augment the paucity of information on such travel and its relationship to health status and use of health services among urban AI/ANs.

Source: Link to Original Article.

Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16118836/