The purpose of this study was to determine levels of food security among American Indians (AI) living in the Midwest and possible correlations between food security levels and various health outcomes, diet, and demographic variables. This study used a cross-sectional design to determine health behaviors among AI. Participants (n = 362) were recruited by AI staff through various cultural community events in the Midwest, such as powwows and health fairs. Inclusion criteria included the following: age 18 years or older, self-identify as an AI, and willing to participate in the survey. Of all participants, 210 (58%) had either low or very low food security, with 96 in the very low category (26.5%). Participants with very low food security tended to have significantly more chronic conditions. Additional significant differences for very low food security existed by demographic variables, including having no insurance (p < 0.0001) or having a regular primary care provider (p = 0.0354). There was also a significant difference between food security levels and the consumption of fast food within the past week (p value = 0.0420), though no differences were found in fruit and vegetable consumption. AI in our sample had higher levels of food insecurity than those reported in the literature for other racial/ethnic groups. AI and non-Native health professionals should be aware of the gravity of food insecurity and the impact it has on overall health. Additional research is needed to determine specific aspects of food insecurity affecting different Native communities to develop appropriate interventions.

The purpose of this study was to understand if American Indian adults with diabetes in the Midwest are similar to American Indian adults nationally in their self-management behaviors. This cross-sectional survey was conducted from May 2009 to April 2010 at powwows, health fairs, and other community events. The convenience sample self-selected into the study and answered questions via touch screen computer about diabetes self-management. Participants were significantly below the national average for American Indians in their adherence to self-management recommendations in daily foot checks (p=0.0035) and having had a dilated eye exam in the previous year (p=0.0002), despite being significantly more likely to have taken a diabetes self-management class (p<0.0001). They were similar to the national average for daily glucose checks and having had one or more hemoglobin A1C tests in the previous year. Participants were less likely to eat 5 or more servings of fruits or vegetables per day (p=0.0001), but more likely to achieve 150 minutes or more of physical activity per week (p=0.0001). Programs addressing self-care issues should be developed to help improve the self-management habits of American Indian adults with diabetes, with particular attention to activities outside of monitoring blood glucose and hemoglobin A1C levels.

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Though smokeless tobacco (SLT) use has decreased in many communities, concern for American Indian (AI) SLT use remains, as this population continues to be disproportionally affected by SLT-related diseases. Tobacco has cultural significance to many AI tribes, therefore tobacco cessation messages portraying tobacco as entirely negative may be ineffective. As a part of our formative research for an SLT cessation intervention, we sought to gain a better understanding of the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about SLT among AI community members. We describe two independent focus group studies conducted in Montana (ten focus groups, 54 participants) and Kansas (six focus groups, 27 participants). Predominant themes emerged from three major topic areas (SLT use, program development, and recreational SLT use) during the discussions from both studies. The formative approach and data from these studies will allow us to more appropriately address SLT-related health disparities across multiple AI communities.