American Indian Health Care Manpower
The percentage of American Indians enrolled in most health programs in selected health professions is low; when compared to the population percent- ages in Census 2010, demographic disparity is found in each of the profes- sions. Table 9–5 gives the percentage of American Indians compared with total program percentages of enrollment and non-Hispanic White enrollment.
HEALTH and ILLNESS in the American Indian and Alaska Native Population ■ 233
Recent nursing data are missing from the overall health professions en- rollment data in Table 9–5. However, the National Sample Survey of Regis- tered Nurses 2008 prepared by the Bureau of Health Professions of the Health Resources Administration provides relevant information regarding the demo- graphic profile of American Registered Nurses. It estimates that the registered nurse population in the United States in 2008 was 3,063,162, with 2,596,599 registered nurses employed in nursing. Of this number, 83.2% were White non- Hispanic and 0.3% were AI/AN (non-Hispanic) (United States Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services, 2010). Given that in 2010 the White population was 63% of the total population and AI/AN (non-Hispanic) people comprised 0.9% of the resident population; this is a clear indication that there is not demographic parity in the percentage of AI/AN (non-Hispanic) people in nursing. This demographic picture and the percent- ages in the tables demonstrate a situation that is an ongoing concern. Somnath and Shipman, who reviewed a total of 55 studies, found that minority patients tend to receive better interpersonal care from practitioners of their own race or ethnicity, particularly in primary care and mental health settings, and that non– English speaking patients experience better interpersonal care, greater medi- cal comprehension, and greater likelihood of keeping follow-up appointments when they see a language-concordant practitioner.
They concluded their study by stating that “the findings indicated greater health professions diversity will likely lead to improved public health by increas- ing access to care for underserved populations, and by increasing opportuni- ties for minority patients to see practitioners with whom they share a common race, ethnicity or language.” They also stated that “race, ethnicity, and lan- guage concordance, which is associated with better patient-practitioner rela- tionships and communication, may increase patients’ likelihood of receiving and accepting appropriate medical care” (Somnath & Shipman, 2006, p. 17). The Research on Culture box illustrates an example of research conducted in American Indian communities.
Table 9–5 Percentage of American Indians Enrolled in Selected Health Profession Schools, Compared with Non-Hispanic Whites: 2004–2005
Number Enrolled
Non-Hispanic White (%)
American Indian (%)
Dentistry 19,342 60.6 0.6 Allopathic Medicine 74,518 62.4 0.9 Osteopathic Medicine 15,634 70.5 0.7 Optometry 5,556 60.3 0.3 Pharmacy 50,691 59.5 0.5 Podiatry 2,095 62.2 0.5 Public Health 22,604 59.3 0.7
Source: National Center for Health Statistics. (2007). Health, United States, 2010: With Special Feature on Death and Dying. Hyattsville, MD: Author, p. 352.