Citation

Gorzig MM, Feir DL, Akee RKQ, Myers SJ, Navid M, Tiede K, Matzke O. J. Econ. Race Policy 2022; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s41996-021-00095-0

PMID

35300314

PMCID

PMC8894124

Abstract

There are persistent disparities in mortality rates between Native Americans and other groups in the USA. Public-use mortality data severely limits the ability of researchers to examine contextual factors that might explain these disparities. Using restricted-use mortality microdata, we examine the relationship between geographic location, specific causes of death, and age at death. We show that Native American women, on average, die 13 years earlier than White women; Native American men, on average, die 12 years earlier than White men. These disparities are largest in the northern Great Plains and Rocky Mountain states. The disparity in age at death is in part due to Native Americans dying from diseases at younger ages than White Americans. Native American women and men die younger and more often from homicide in counties with persistently higher White male to female ratios. Native American men also die younger and more often from homicide when White male to female ratios increase within their county over time.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s41996-021-00095-0.

Language: en

Keywords

Gender; Health; Age at death; Cause of death; Homicides; Mortality disparities; Native American; Sex