Upstream Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease Among Males on the Crow Reservation

Abstract

On the Crow Reservation in Montana, heart disease has been identified as the number one cause of death among males; diabetes, a known risk factor for heart disease, is the number one diagnosis among this population. The Crow Nation, a frontier region in Montana, also has high rates of obesity, poverty, and low health literacy, which contribute to the high mortality from heart disease. The purpose of this review is to identify the various risk factors that drive the high incidence of heart disease on the Crow reservation, and the corresponding upstream health prevention measures that could improve the rates of heart disease. Through this review, I will examine the Community Health Assessment Report for the Crow Tribe, as well as relevant literature on Native American social and behavioral determinants of health, and government research on upstream prevention of heart disease and determinants of health. I will review articles from the past five years on Native American or Crow populations, related to heart health and preventative measures. The social determinants of health I will examine are diet, obesity, education level, spirituality, and access to food and healthcare. This research is significant in informing public health nursing practice. It will provide insights into the specific ways nurses can work with frontier Native American populations to prevent heart disease from occurring among males.