Ss59-01 the Role of Occupation as a Determinant for Health for Indigenous People in the U.S

Introduction Utilizing the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) 2020-2022 data, this study evaluated differences in work arrangements, employment patterns, annual earnings and limitations to work due to mental and physical health between American Indian / Native American (AI/AN) populations in the U.S. and other groups. Materials and Methods The NHIS is a cross-sectional survey of U.S. households. Participants were defined into three Indigenous groups: (1) Non-Hispanic American Indian Alaskan Native; (2) Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native; and (3) American Indian Alaskan Native and other race groups. Non-Hispanic white and Hispanic respondents were comparator groups for descriptive statistics and all non-Indigenous participants for multivariable models. Results There were differences within Indigenous subgroups in industry and occupation, current employment (worked last week: 48.7% – 59.3%), earnings (working with family income below poverty threshold: 8.7%-15%), access to health benefits through work (58% – 69.4%), and limitations to work due to physical and mental health (18.2% - 30.5%), all of which were significantly worse in multivariable models in at least one Indigenous group compared to non-AIAN race/ethnicities. Indigenous subgroups had higher proportions of diagnoses in physical and mental health comorbidities in participants with work limited by health, such as previous diagnosis of depression 51.8%(36.9, 66.8) and anxiety 48.3%(33.1, 63.5) in Hispanic AIANs. Conclusions There is opportunity to explore the occupational health risks in groups of Indigenous workers to provide interventions encouraging growth of a healthy and fit workforce, and promote work practices and future regulations aimed at improving safe work practices.