Disparities in Health Status and Health Care Access and Use Among Older American Indians and Alaska Natives and Non-Hispanic Whites in California

Abstract

Objectives: The present study compared the characteristics of health status and health care access and use among older American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIANs) to those of non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs). Methods: Data were drawn from the 2009 California Health Interview Survey, with a total of 17,156 adults aged 60 and older (198 AIANs and 16,958 NHWs) analyzed. Results: Older AIANs reported poorer physical and mental health than did NHWs. AIANs were less likely than NHWs to see a medical doctor and have a usual source of medical care and were more likely than NHWs to delay getting needed medical care and report difficulty understanding the doctor at their last visit. Discussion: These findings highlight the vulnerability and unmet health care needs of older AIANs. More research on the older AIAN population is clearly needed to document their health care needs in order to better inform efforts to reduce health disparities.