DISPARITIES RESEARCH CENTER

Projects from Sioux Falls Campus

Prenatal Alcohol Exposure in SIDS and Stillbirth (PASS): Longitudinal community-linked study with the Oglala Sioux Tribe, Spirit Lake Tribe, and Rapid City Native Women’s Health to investigate the role of prenatal alcohol exposure in the risk for SIDS, stillbirth and FAS, and to determine how these different outcomes are inter-related; Principal Investigator: Amy Elliott

Early Predictors of Adverse Neurobehavioral Outcomes in Children: Follow children in the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe whose mothers are involved in the PASS study from the prenatal period through age 4 to compare early prenatal variables with later indicators of neurobehavioral development; Principal Investigator: Amy Elliott

Dakotas’ FAS Prevention Project: Surveillance: Establish a prevalence rate for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in South Dakota; Principal Investigator: Amy Elliott

Cultural Viewpoints of Prenatal Health Care: Evaluate culture in addressing conceptual differences regarding prenatal health care and the resulting health disparities for the Oglala Sioux Tribe; Principal Investigator: Jessica Hanson

Public Health Programs

Breathing Relief Education and Tribal Health Empowerment (BREATHE):  Improve the quality of life for American Indians living within the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe with lung disease by providing education, identifying undiagnosed cases, and reinforcing self-sufficiency and empowerment in diagnosed individuals; Principal Investigator: James Wallace, M.D. (Sanford Health)

Incontinence Inventory in Native Americans: Define the issue of urinary incontinence in American Indian women in the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, and provide individualized treatment using surgical interventions: Principal Investigator: Michael Fiegen, M.D. (Sanford Health)

 Projects from Spearfish Campus

Cultural Resilience and Adolescent Risk Behaviors: Collaborating with the Fort Peck and Fort Belknap Tribes to design and implement cultural interventions with Tribal youth and assess impact on risk behaviors; Principal Investigator: Mary Rogers

Prevention of Childhood Obesity: In partnership with the Eastern Shoshone, Fort Peck, Crow Creek Sioux, and Lower Brule Sioux Tribes, conducting needs assessments, designing and implementing interventions to support increased physical activity and healthy food choices, and evaluating impact on youth activity and weight; Principal Investigator: Victoria Grey Owl

Health Disparities of American Indian Prisoners: Collecting and analyzing data on criminal sentencing and access to health care for Indian and non-Indian prisoners in Montana; Principal Investigator: Mary Rogers

Health Beliefs and Attitudes in Indian and Non-Indian People: Collaborating with Northern Cheyenne Tribe to conduct and analyze survey of health beliefs and attitudes to identify factors that are associated with differential use of health services, relative to a non-Indian population; Principal Investigator: Cheryl Anagnopoulos

Weighty Decisions for Diabetes: Partnering with Lower Brule Sioux Tribe to develop program to assist Tribal women with diabetes to implement lifestyle changes and manage weight; Principal Investigator: Victoria Grey Owl

Assessing Health Literacy of American Indians with Diabetes: Conducting and analyzing health literacy survey of Crow Creek Sioux Tribal members with diabetes to develop interventions improve provider-patient communications on health issues; Principal Investigator: Mary Rogers

Youth with FASD in the Juvenile Justice System: Developing protocols for identifying youth offenders with FASD and train staff to improve management of these offenders; Principal Investigator: Mary Rogers

Health Promotion for Indian Women: Collaborating with the Fort Peck and Crow Tribes to develop curriculum and training manuals on weight management for young women and train Tribal staff to implement educational and follow-up support interventions; Principal Investigator: Victoria Grey Owl

Financing Indian Health: Examining the impact of under-funding Indian Health Service on access to and quality of care on the Fort Peck and Wind River Reservations and developing options for increasing revenues and efficiency of the health system; Principal Investigator: Kathy Langwell

Reducing Infant Mortality on the Wind River Reservation: Evaluating the planning, operations, and impacts of the Northern Arapaho WIC program for prevention of infant mortality; Principal Investigator: Kathy Langwell

Performance Measurement and Improvement: In partnership with the Billings Area Indian Health Service and six Tribes in Montana and Wyoming, conducting CAHPS surveys of consumer satisfaction with IHS performance and providing support for developing strategies for performance improvement; Prinicipal Investigator: Kathy Langwell