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County data show large health gaps for American Indian, Alaska Native and Mesoamerican indigenous residents
Summary
Alameda County public-health officials presented data showing American Indian and Alaska Native residents have markedly worse outcomes — including a 7.3-year shorter life expectancy and elevated heart disease, COVID and diabetes mortality — and recommended sustained funding, data disaggregation and culturally rooted services.
Alameda County health officials told the county Health Committee on March 25 that American Indian, Alaska Native and other indigenous residents in the county face substantial and persistent health disparities.
Public Health Director Kimmy Watkins Tard and data lead Julia Raifman presented figures showing the county’s American Indian and Alaska Native population had a life expectancy roughly 7.3 years lower than the county average in 2020–21 and disproportionately high mortality from heart disease, COVID-19 and diabetes. "The American Indian and Alaska Native population was 2.6 times the mortality rate of the general population for COVID-19," Raifman said, and heart-disease mortality was about 1.6 times higher.
The…
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