Reservation and non‐reservation American Indian mortality in 1970 and 1978

Abstract

Mortality rates by age and sex of American Indians living in reservation and non‐reservation counties were compared for 1970 and 1978. An apparent overcount in the 1980 census enumeration of American Indians curtails rigorous comparisons, but broad differences can be delineated. The main improvement in American Indian mortality during the decade was in age group 0–4. In 1970, non‐reservation death rates were not different from reservation rates. By the end of the decade, non‐reservation death rates had diverged downward from reservation deaths. An analysis of 1978 death rates by poverty status showed that non‐reservation death rates are sensitive to county poverty level, whereas reservation death rates are not.