Difference between revisions of "Template:Nhsc-v1-487"

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Dispossession and defeat also have
 
Dispossession and defeat also have
psychological, social and c u l t u r al
+
psychological, social and cultural
 
consequences for Native Hawaiians. By
 
consequences for Native Hawaiians. By
a l l major social indices — health,
+
all major social indices — health,
 
education, employment, income —
 
education, employment, income —
Nat: e Hawaiians display d i s t i n c t d i s -
+
Native Hawaiians display distinct disparities with their fellow citizens.
par- t i e s with their fellow c i t i z e n s.
+
 
Health Concerns. The impact of
+
<u>Health Concerns.</u> The impact of
 
Western diseases on Native Hawaiians
 
Western diseases on Native Hawaiians
was h i s t o r i c a l l y devastating. Waves
+
was historically devastating. Waves
 
of epidemics reduced the estimated
 
of epidemics reduced the estimated
 
contact population of 300,000 in 1778,
 
contact population of 300,000 in 1778,
Line 14: Line 14:
 
of this decimation have been
 
of this decimation have been
 
considered in a variety of contexts.
 
considered in a variety of contexts.
 +
 
Western observers, beginning in
 
Western observers, beginning in
 
1838, noted that unless some dramatic
 
1838, noted that unless some dramatic
Line 19: Line 20:
 
conditions of Native Hawaiians that
 
conditions of Native Hawaiians that
 
the race would disappear. These
 
the race would disappear. These
i n i t i a l feelings of horror and dismay
+
initial feelings of horror and dismay
 
over the fatal impact of Western
 
over the fatal impact of Western
 
contact gradually altered.
 
contact gradually altered.
 +
 
After the publication of Darwin's
 
After the publication of Darwin's
Origin of Species, Europeans and
+
<u>Origin of Species</u>, Europeans and
Americans began to adopt the a t t i t u d es
+
Americans began to adopt the attitudes
 
and policies of Social Darwinism. The
 
and policies of Social Darwinism. The
theory of "the survival ^f the
+
theory of "the survival of the fittest" was applied to nations, and
f i t t e s t " was applied to nations, and
 
 
validated Western expansion and
 
validated Western expansion and
 
imperialism as the natural working out
 
imperialism as the natural working out
 
of an inevitable progression of
 
of an inevitable progression of
 
conquest and colonization.
 
conquest and colonization.
Acquired immunity and i n t e r marriage
+
 
 +
Acquired immunity and intermarriage
 
among Native Hawaiians,
 
among Native Hawaiians,
 
however, was reversing this trend.
 
however, was reversing this trend.
 
Demographic trends now indicate that
 
Demographic trends now indicate that
the population had reached i t s lowest
+
the population had reached its lowest
 
level in the final decade of the 19th
 
level in the final decade of the 19th
i_entury, would s t a b i l i z e for about
+
Century, would stabilize for about
 
twenty years, and then begin a
 
twenty years, and then begin a
 
dramatic recovery.
 
dramatic recovery.
 +
 
Today's Native Hawaiian population
 
Today's Native Hawaiian population
 
numbers an estimated 175,000
 
numbers an estimated 175,000
i n d i v i d u a l s , more than half of whom
+
individuals, more than half of whom
 
are less than 19 years old.
 
are less than 19 years old.
The health c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of this
+
 
groupi however, are adversely and
+
The health characteristics of this
c o n s i s t e n t l y affected by mental health
+
group, however, are adversely and
d i s o r d e r s , s t r e s s - r e l a t e d diseases,
+
consistently affected by mental health
and an absence of c u l t u r a l l y - s e n s i t i ve
+
disorders, stress-related diseases,
 +
and an absence of culturally-sensitive
 
health professionals.
 
health professionals.
 +
 
As developed in depth within the
 
As developed in depth within the
body of this study, the followinq
+
body of this study, the following
 
findings are offered:
 
findings are offered:
the psychological despair and
+
* the psychological despair and sense of being a conquered people in their own homeland is a factor in the health conditions of Native Hawaiians;
sense of being a conquered
+
* Native Hawaiians have the lowest life expectancy of any ethnic group in the State of Hawai'i: 67 years compared to a Statewide average of 74 years;
people in their own homeland is
+
* the leading causes of death for Native Hawaiians, in order of prevalence, are heart diseases, cancers, stroke, and accidents;
a factor in the health conditions
+
* Native Hawaiians have the highest infant death rate in the State of Hawai'i: 14 per 1,000 live births compared to a statewide average of 10 per thousand;
of Native Hawaiians;
+
* mental health assessments indicate that Native Hawaiians have a higher-than-expected incidence of personality disorders, mental retardation, and drug abuse than their proportion of the population; and
Native Hawaiians have the
+
* suicide rates among Native Hawaiian males (statistics are unavailable for females) is the highest in the State of Hawai'i: 22.5 per 100,000 in the population, compared to a rate of 13.5 for males of all races in Hawai'i — rates in the 20-34 year age group of Native Hawaiians was even higher.
lowest l i f e expectancy of any
+
{{p|487}}
ethnic group in the State of
 
Hawai'i: 67 years compared to
 
a Statewide average of 74
 
years;
 
the leading causes of death for
 
Native Hawaiians, in order of
 
prevalence, are heart diseases,
 
cancers, stroke, and
 
accidents;
 
Native Hawaiians have the
 
highest infant death rate in
 
the State of Hawai'i: 14 per
 
1,000 live births compared to a
 
statewide average of 10 per
 
thousand;
 
mental health assessments
 
indicate that Native Hawaiians
 
have a higher-than-expected
 
incidence of personality
 
d i s o r d e r s , mental retardation,
 
and drug abuse than their proportion
 
of the population; and
 
suicide rates among Native
 
Hawaiian males - ( s t a t i s t i c s are
 
unavailable for females) is the
 
highest in the State of
 
Hawai'i: 22.5 per 100,000 in
 
the population, compared to a
 
r a t e of 13.5 for males of all
 
races in Hawai'i — rates in
 
the 20-34 year age group of
 
Native Hawaiians was even
 
higher.
 
487
 

Latest revision as of 00:43, 24 July 2006

Dispossession and defeat also have psychological, social and cultural consequences for Native Hawaiians. By all major social indices — health, education, employment, income — Native Hawaiians display distinct disparities with their fellow citizens.

Health Concerns. The impact of Western diseases on Native Hawaiians was historically devastating. Waves of epidemics reduced the estimated contact population of 300,000 in 1778, to 34,000 by 1893. The implications of this decimation have been considered in a variety of contexts.

Western observers, beginning in 1838, noted that unless some dramatic improvement were made in the health conditions of Native Hawaiians that the race would disappear. These initial feelings of horror and dismay over the fatal impact of Western contact gradually altered.

After the publication of Darwin's Origin of Species, Europeans and Americans began to adopt the attitudes and policies of Social Darwinism. The theory of "the survival of the fittest" was applied to nations, and validated Western expansion and imperialism as the natural working out of an inevitable progression of conquest and colonization.

Acquired immunity and intermarriage among Native Hawaiians, however, was reversing this trend. Demographic trends now indicate that the population had reached its lowest level in the final decade of the 19th Century, would stabilize for about twenty years, and then begin a dramatic recovery.

Today's Native Hawaiian population numbers an estimated 175,000 individuals, more than half of whom are less than 19 years old.

The health characteristics of this group, however, are adversely and consistently affected by mental health disorders, stress-related diseases, and an absence of culturally-sensitive health professionals.

As developed in depth within the body of this study, the following findings are offered:

  • the psychological despair and sense of being a conquered people in their own homeland is a factor in the health conditions of Native Hawaiians;
  • Native Hawaiians have the lowest life expectancy of any ethnic group in the State of Hawai'i: 67 years compared to a Statewide average of 74 years;
  • the leading causes of death for Native Hawaiians, in order of prevalence, are heart diseases, cancers, stroke, and accidents;
  • Native Hawaiians have the highest infant death rate in the State of Hawai'i: 14 per 1,000 live births compared to a statewide average of 10 per thousand;
  • mental health assessments indicate that Native Hawaiians have a higher-than-expected incidence of personality disorders, mental retardation, and drug abuse than their proportion of the population; and
  • suicide rates among Native Hawaiian males (statistics are unavailable for females) is the highest in the State of Hawai'i: 22.5 per 100,000 in the population, compared to a rate of 13.5 for males of all races in Hawai'i — rates in the 20-34 year age group of Native Hawaiians was even higher.
-p487-