Description: Disease processes among American Indians and Alaska Natives often have distinct manifestations that need to be considered by clinicians and health policy makers involved with these populations. Equally important, all aspects of Indian life, including health, are governed by the special relationship between Indian tribes and the U.S. federal government. In American Indian Health, Everett R. Rhoades brings his extensive expertise to bear on these themes -- he is an American Indian physician specializing in internal medicine and infectious diseases; from 1982 to 1993 he served as assistant surgeon general, and he was the first Indian director of the Indian Health Service.

In this book, Rhoades gathers experts to present a comprehensive assessment of the health of American Indian peoples and the delivery of health services to them. The book is organized into four parts. Part I describes the migration and history of aboriginal peoples in North America, health conditions before Columbus, and demographic characteristics of Indians. Part II discusses the relations of Indian nations to the U.S. government, the history and organization of the Indian Health Service, and data sources for the Indian population. Part III forms the bulk of the book (chaps. 7-22); it addresses specific health problems, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, injury, suicide, and alcoholism. Part IV looks at the interaction of traditional Indian and modern Western medicine, cultural considerations involved in providing care to Indians, and research ethics.

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