Examining Characteristics of Local Public Health Systems With Exceptional Tribal Organization Participation

Abstract

Objective: To learn feasible ways to increase multisector community partnership with tribal organizations, meaning tribal health authorities or American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN)-serving organizations, by examining characteristics of local public health systems with exceptional tribal organization participation.

Design, setting, and participants: In total, 728 local public health departments were surveyed in 2018 to generate a nationally representative sample of local public health systems in the United States. A positive deviance approach using logistic regression helped identify local public health systems that had tribal organization participation despite characteristics that make such participation statistically unlikely. Local public health systems with exceptional tribal organization participation were compared with systems with conventional participation, examining measures known to impact the formation of public health partnerships.

Main outcome measure: This study used an exploratory logistic regression approach to identify unique characteristics of local public health systems with exceptional tribal organization participation.

Results: Of 728 health systems surveyed, 21 were identified as having exceptional tribal organization participation. Across varying thresholds to identify exceptional participation, having a higher network density and prioritizing equity in public health activities were found to consistently distinguish exceptional tribal organization participation in both nonrural and rural areas.

Conclusions: Public health partnerships with tribal organizations are possible even in circumstances that make them unlikely. Efforts to build denser networks of collaborating organizations and prioritize equity may help public health systems achieve success with tribal organization partnerships.