Voices of Missouri

The state of Missouri has the 11th highest rate of cancer mortality (NCHS, 2019) in the United States and cancer is the second leading cause of death (CDC, 2017). There are over 183,400 AIANs living in Missouri (U.S. Census, 2010), but Missouri is one of only sixteen states that houses no state-or federally recognized tribes. Because of this, there is no local access to Indian Health Service (IHS) facilities. The combination of these factors creates an unclear picture of the cancer experience of AIAN Missourians.

The Voices of Missouri pilot study will serve as the first attempt to explore and better understand cancer among AIAN Missourians. The findings will serve as a strong foundation for the development of future studies to explore state-wide cancer disparities among AIAN populations in Missouri, which allow researchers to monitor and close cancer disparity gaps. 

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With a team of researchers and media specialists under the guidance of a community advisory committee, we are embarking on this journey to bring awareness to cancer experiences among AIAN Missourians while laying the groundwork for future health disparity studies. Paired with this awareness, our team will be providing resources and increased access to information for our fellow AIAN community members.