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White Paper Reveals Striking Data on Health Disparities in American Indian and Alaska Native CommunitiesToday, CareQuest Institute for Oral Health®, the Society of American Indian Dentists (SAID), and the National Indian Health Board's (NIHB) Tribal Oral Health Initiative released a white paper on oral health disparities in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230320005530/en/ The white paper, "American Indian and Alaska Native Communities Face a 'Disproportionate Burden of Oral Disease': Reversing Inequities Involves Challenges and Opportunities," includes striking new data from CareQuest Institute's State of Oral Health Equity in America survey and offers strategic recommendations on how to address disparities and inequities facing AI/AN communities. Filled with graphics, quotes, and frameworks, the paper details how historical and intergenerational trauma including genocide, exposure to infectious diseases, forced boarding school attendance, lack of access to nutritional and affordable food, and lack of access to routine preventive care place AI/AN communities at high risk of poor overall and oral health outcomes. "The data and research in this white paper affirm the serious health disparities that AI/AN communities have faced for generations due to structural racism and historical trauma," said CareQuest Institute CEO and President Myechia Minter-Jordan, MD, MBA. "We need broad distributive justice to break this cycle. Our hope is that the data and recommendations in this white paper help address the deep health inequities facing this population. We are grateful to SAID and NIHB for their partnership on this important project and look forward to continuing to work with all stakeholders toward solutions." "SAID is committed to achieving equal representation for AI/ANs in the field of dentistry and we are grateful for the opportunity to partner with CareQuest Institute to contribute to the understanding of oral disease as it impacts our communities and people," said Cristin Haase, DMD, MPH, president of Society of American Indian Dentists. "Partnerships such as these are important for opening the door to critical conversations and driving change towards inclusive oral health care for AI/AN communities. It is common for our population to be excluded or erased from data collection regarding dentistry workforce and oral health, and i is vital that we continue to remain visible and raise awareness of the issues." Findings from the white paper include:
The authors also make several strategic recommendations on how to reduce oral health disparities in AI/AN communities, including:
Read the full white paper here. CareQuest Institute is hosting a webinar, in collaboration with native-led organizations, to discuss the findings and recommendations from the white paper on Thursday, March 30 at 1 p.m. ET. A panel of experts will detail the disparities facing AI/AN populations and share ongoing culturally and community-driven strategies to improve AI/AN oral health. Register here.
About CareQuest Institute for Oral Health®
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