U. S. health officials have said that as compared with other groups, non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native adults are more likely to have poorer health.

National estimates for selected health status indicators, health behaviors, healthcare utilization, health conditions, immunizations and human immunodeficiency virus testing status for American Indian or Alaska Native adults with those for white, black, Asian, and Hispanic adults age 18 and older, were compared by a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics.

Non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native adults, as compared with other groups, are more likely to have poorer health, unmet medical needs due to cost, diabetes, trouble hearing and activity limitations, and to have experienced feelings of psychological distress in the past 30 days. Non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native adults are more likely to be current smokers and current drinkers compared with other adults.

The report finally concluded that the many health challenges are faced by non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native community as is reflected in their higher rates of risky health behaviors, poorer health status and health conditions and lower utilization of health services. (With Inputs from Agencies)