| 1. |
Epidemiology of HIV/AIDS among AI/AN/NHs:
|
| 2. |
Fast Facts about the Epidemiology of HIV/AIDS for AI/AN/NHs:
|
|
Statistics tell a story about the current health status of your community. You can use this type of epidemiological data to make a general statement about the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on the national Native population. Try to learn about the health conditions of your community from as many resources as possible. State and local health departments, as well as larger tribes and the Indian Health Service, collect health-related information about Native communities. You can contact these departments and services to gather information about your specific community. There is often an epidemiologist at the local or state level who can assist you in compiling and interpreting data reports. You can also contact NNAAPC to apply for Capacity Building Assistance.
If you are part of a clinic or community-based organization serving Native populations, you can analyze internal information from your agency’s databases. This existing data can help you to determine trends and issues specific to your organization. Review the number of Native clients served by your clinic or organization, common problems and services documented by your agency, referrals made to other agencies, and so on. Local data is the most persuasive and relevant in creating a Community Services Assessment, but if none exists, look to state and then national statistics and demographics about Native populations. (For more information, see Module 5: Conducting a Community Services Assessment.) Be sure that you follow your clinic or agency’s client confidentiality standards and/or Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule regulations.
Gathering and Interpreting Data
Gathering quantitative data involves the collection of numbers that can then be translated and quantified (as in a mean/average, rate, or ratio). In this module we select one primary quantifiable measure: rates. For more information on these and other ways to collect data in your community, see Module 6: Evaluation.
TYPES OF DATA:
Qualitative data is information that is difficult to measure, count, or express in numerical terms. Gathering qualitative data may involve observation, interviewing, and document review. Qualitative data is often presented in textual or narrative form and is rich in detail and description.
Quantitative data is information expressed in numerical format. Quantitative methods seek facts or causes of phenomena that can be expressed numerically and analyzed statistically. To gather quantitative data, one might conduct surveys, closed-ended interviews, and tests. Epidemiological statistics fall into this category of information seeking. |
Many Native people believe in a holistic approach to health. According to this view, health equates to the harmony of body and soul with nature. Illness implies an imbalance within the individual and between the individual and the universe. Native American patients who access traditional medicine and ceremonies report physical relief as well as an overall increase in their sense of well-being. This type of data might be difficult to track by gathering only quantitative data. To document cultural strengths and values, always keep a holistic viewpoint in mind when gathering health and wellness information about Native people in your community. This will help you to gather information to develop a prevention program rooted in Native values.
|
