Resilience in American Indian and Alaska Native Public Health: An Underexplored Framework

Objective: To conduct a systematic literature review to assess the conceptualization, application, and measurement of resilience in American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) health promotion. Data Sources: We searched 9 literature databases to document how resilience is discussed, fostered, and evaluated in studies of AIAN health promotion in the United States. Study Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria: The article had to (1) be in English; (2) peer reviewed, published from January 1, 1980, to July 31, 2015; (3) identify the target population as predominantly AIANs in the United States; (4) describe a nonclinical intervention or original research that identified resilience as an outcome or resource; and (5) discuss resilience as related to cultural, social, and/or collective strengths. Data Extraction: Sixty full texts were retrieved and assessed for inclusion by 3 reviewers. Data were extracted by 2 reviewers and verified for relevance to inclusion criteria by the third reviewer. Data Synthesis: Attributes of resilience that appeared repeatedly in the literature were identified. Findings were categorized across the lifespan (age group of participants), divided by attributes, and further defined by specific domains within each attribute. Results: Nine articles (8 studies) met the criteria. Currently, resilience research in AIAN populations is limited to the identification of attributes and pilot interventions focused on individual resilience. Resilience models are not used to guide health promotion programming; collective resilience is not explored. Conclusion: Attributes of AIAN resilience should be considered in the development of health interventions. Attention to collective resilience is recommended to leverage existing assets in AIAN communities

Resilience in American Indian and Alaska Native Public Health: An Underexplored Framework

Objective: To conduct a systematic literature review to assess the conceptualization, application, and measurement of resilience in American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) health promotion. Data Sources: We searched 9 literature databases to document how resilience is discussed, fostered, and evaluated in studies of AIAN health promotion in the United States. Study Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria: The article had to (1) be in English; (2) peer reviewed, published from January 1, 1980, to July 31, 2015; (3) identify the target population as predominantly AIANs in the United States; (4) describe a nonclinical intervention or original research that identified resilience as an outcome or resource; and (5) discuss resilience as related to cultural, social, and/or collective strengths. Data Extraction: Sixty full texts were retrieved and assessed for inclusion by 3 reviewers. Data were extracted by 2 reviewers and verified for relevance to inclusion criteria by the third reviewer. Data Synthesis: Attributes of resilience that appeared repeatedly in the literature were identified. Findings were categorized across the lifespan (age group of participants), divided by attributes, and further defined by specific domains within each attribute. Results: Nine articles (8 studies) met the criteria. Currently, resilience research in AIAN populations is limited to the identification of attributes and pilot interventions focused on individual resilience. Resilience models are not used to guide health promotion programming; collective resilience is not explored. Conclusion: Attributes of AIAN resilience should be considered in the development of health interventions. Attention to collective resilience is recommended to leverage existing assets in AIAN communities

A Southwestern Tribal Perspective on Traditional and Commercial Tobacco

American Indian or Alaska Natives have the highest rates of current cigarette (36.5%) and smokeless tobacco use (5.3%), and tobacco product (40.1%) and the second highest rate of current cigar use (6.1%) compared to all other racial-ethnic groups in the U.S. rates of American Indian or Alaska Native tobacco use vary by gender. Few studies examine perceptions of tobacco use among tribal members residing on and off the reservation. This study fills a gap in the literature by reporting the perceptions of 34 enrolled members of a southwestern tribe who reside on and off a tribal land using a Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) design through a collaboration between a university and a tribal health program. Researchers conducted seven focus groups; four on the southwest reservation and three within an urban community. The discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a multi-investigator consensus model. The use of tobacco (commercial or traditional) in southwest tribes is essential to cultural practices. Results depicted different views on cultural meaning and health impacts of commercial and traditional tobacco. Findings suggest the importance of local research to understand dimensions of tobacco use before moving forward with tobacco cessation programmin

Helicobacter pylori in Native Americans in Northern Arizona

Background: In Arizona Helicobacter pylori prevalence of infection among Navajo adults is about 62% and gastric cancer incidence rate is 3–4 times higher than that of the non-Hispanic White population. Aim: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of specific H. pylori virulence factors (cagA and vacA) among Navajo patients undergoing and their association with gastric disease. Methods: Virulence genes, cagA and vacA, in H. pylori were investigated in gastric biopsies from 96 Navajo patients over age 18 who were undergoing esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Biopsies from the antrum and fundus were used for molecular characterization to determine cagA type and number of EPIYA motifs and presence of alleles in the signal (s) and medium (m) regions of the vacA gene. Results: H. pylori infection was found in 22.9% of the biopsy samples. The cagA gene amplified in 57.6% of samples and showed a predominant “Western cagA” type, with the EPIYA-ABC motif (45.4%), most prevalent. The vacA allele s1bm1 was the most prevalent (54.5%). Conclusions: H. pylori genotypes were predominantly cagA Western-type and ABC EPIYA motifs. The vacA s1bm1 genotype was the most prevalent and seemed to be associated with gastritis. American Indian/Alaska Native populations are at higher risk for gastric cancer. It is important to identify genotypes of H. pylori and virulence factors involved in the high prevalence of H. pylori and associated disease among the Navajo population

Indigenous Writing Retreats: Native American Community Members and Scholars in action!

Writing retreats provide time away from distractions to write manuscripts, grant applications, books, or dissertations. A unique characteristic of writing retreats is that they form a “community of scholars,” which is culturally congruent with Indigenous intellectuals, who are familiar with community as an essential way of life. This article presents two case studies and data about the experiences from a national Native American scholars’ cohort (n=6) and an Indigenous writing retreat from mainly Haudenosaunee writers in Mohawk Country (n=22). Evaluative feedback from aggregated writing retreats endorses the feasibility, growth, and advocacy of future writing retreats. Results shared that protective writing times increased meaningful productivity. Core values related to a community-based participatory research framework learned from a confederacy of tribes and their urban partners were also shared

Factors Associated with Cancer Screening Among Hopi Men

Cancer screening rates remain low among American Indian men, and cancer screening behaviors and barriers to cancer screening among American Indian men are not well understood. This study evaluated cancer screening behaviors in 102 Hopi men who were 50 years of age or older from the Hopi Survey of Cancer and Chronic Disease. Reported cancer screening frequencies were 15.7%, 45.1%, and 35.3% for fecal occult blood test (FOBT), colonoscopy, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, respectively. Among men who reported having had a FOBT, 81.2% had the test more than 1 year ago. Among men who reported a colonoscopy, 60.8% had colonoscopy within the past 3 years. Similarly, among men who reported having had PSA, 72.3% had PSA within the past 3 years. "No one told me" was the most common answer for not undergoing FOBT (33.7%), colonoscopy (48.2%), and PSA (39.4%). Men who reported having had a PSA or digital rectal exam were three times as likely to also report having a FOBT or colonoscopy (odds ratio [OR] 3.19, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.21-8.46). Younger age (< 65) was associated with reduced odds of ever having prostate cancer screening (OR 0.28, 95% CI: 0.10-0.77). Ever having colorectal cancer screening and previous diagnosis of cancer increased odds of ever having prostate cancer screening (OR 3.15, 95% CI: 1.13-8.81 and OR 5.28, 95% CI: 1.15-24.18 respectively). This study illustrates the importance of community cancer education for men to improve cancer screening participation.12 month embargo; published 20 October 2020This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]