Comparing Self-Reported and Aggregated Racial Classification for American Indian/Alaska Native Youths in YRBSS: 2021

Am J Public Health. 2024 Apr;114(4):403-406. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2023.307561. Epub 2024 Feb 22.

Abstract

Objectives. To identify how race and ethnicity were reclassified with survey variables for children self-reporting as American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) using the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS). Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 2021 YRBSS. YRBSS collects behaviors and demographics of students in grades 9 through 12, including race and ethnicity via self-report, and then reclassifies data into a "raceeth" variable. To examine the classification of AI/AN in YRBSS, we compared AI/AN composition between self-report and raceeth variables. Results. A total of 816 adolescents self-reported as AI/AN alone (145; 17.70%), AI/AN alone with Hispanic/Latino background (246; 30.15%), or AI/AN in combination with 1 or more race (425; 52.08%). Of those, only 145 were classified as being AI/AN in the calculated raceeth variable. With YRBSS survey weighting, the percentage of AI/AN in the raceeth variable was 13.4%. Conclusions. Misclassification, noncollection, or the use of categories such as "other" and "multirace" without allowing disaggregation can misrepresent disease burden, morbidity, and mortality. Consequently, it is critical to disaggregate data to adequately capture race/ethnicity in self-report surveys and data sources. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(4):403-406. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2023.307561).

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Alaska Natives*
  • American Indian or Alaska Native
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Health Behavior
  • Humans
  • Indians, North American*
  • Population Surveillance / methods
  • Risk-Taking
  • Self Report
  • United States / epidemiology