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This paper synthesises critique from Māori patients with Bipolar Disorder (BD) and their whānau to identify barriers and propose changes to improve the structure and function of the New Zealand mental health system. A qualitative Kaupapa Māori Research methodology was used. Twenty-four semi-structured interviews were completed with Māori patients with BD and members of their whānau. Structural, descriptive and pattern coding was completed using an adapted cultural competence framework to organise and analyse the data. Three key themes identified the impact of structural features of the New Zealand mental health system on health equity for Māori with BD. Themes involved the accessibility, delivery and scope of the current health system, and described how structural features influenced the quality, utility and availability of BD services for Māori patients and whānau. Structural barriers in the existing design, and potential changes to improve the accessibility, delivery and scope of BD services for Māori, were proposed including a redesign of operational, environmental, staffing, and navigation points (information, transition, fatigue) to better meet the needs of Māori with BD. A commitment to equity when implementing structural change is needed, including ongoing evaluation and refinement. This paper provides specific recommendations that should be considered in health service redesign to ensure the New Zealand mental health system meets the needs of Māori patients with BD and their whānau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives:The current study aimed to explore if the impact of various risk factors for chronic disease differed for people of Chinese, Indian and New Zealand European and Other (NZEO) ethnicities. Design:Data analysed for this paper was extracted from the 2003–04 and the 2006–07 NZ Health surveys for adults aged 25–70 which used a cross-sectional survey design. Data from both the survey waves were combined and all statistical analysis was done using SAS version 9.2 or 9.3. Ethnicity of participants was coded using a priority-based classification system as (1) Indian, (2) Chinese, (3) Other Asian, (4) NZEO, (5) Maori and (6) Pacific. Only data for Indians, Chinese and NZEO were used for the current study. Prevalence estimates and 95% confidence intervals for chronic disease and the associated risk factors were generated to describe the sample. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine whether the difference in the change in risk of chronic disease with different exposures was different according to ethnicity. Results:Higher deprivation resulted in increased risk of chronic disease in Indian and Chinese males but not in NZEO males (p= .03). There was a weak evidence for a differing effect of physical activity (p = .10) on chronic disease with the protective effect not seen in Indian or Chinese participants. Conclusion:The results of the current study indicate that some factors such as socio-economic deprivation and physical activity may impact differently on the prevalence of chronic disease according to ethnicity. The authors recommend further investigation of these factors using improved and innovative methodology and high-quality ethnicity data to better understand the factors underpinning ethnic disparities in disease prevalence among Asian sub-groups. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objectives.New Zealand has a unique tool, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the Treaty of Waitangi, for addressing health disparities. Indigenous Māori have compromised health status compared to other groups. This paper investigates ways in which public health units (PHUs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) use Te Tiriti o Waitangi in service delivery to Māori. Design.A nationwide telephone survey of primary health providers (n=162) was conducted in 2014-15. Participants were asked about effectiveness and monitoring of their service delivery to Māori. Results.PHUs reported actively working with Māori, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi to reduce health disparities. Direct Māori engagement with development and delivery of programmes was viewed as essential. Strategies included designated PHU staff in positions of responsibility, formal partnerships with Māori, and providing operational and strategic guidance. Some PHUs supported development of cultural competencies. NGO responsiveness to Māori was variable. Some NGOs described prioritising service delivery and programmes for Māori. Others reported the focus of their service was European or other non-Māori ethnicities. Lack of resources or past difficulties engaging with Māori were barriers. Conclusion.Public health has an ethical commitment to reduce health disparities. Advancing Te Tiriti obligations in everyday practice has the potential to address inequalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim was to investigate the prevalence of self-reported sleep complaints in New Zealand adults and determine the independent association of sleep complaints with adverse health outcomes. Design: We used 2002/03 New Zealand Health Survey data (n = 12,500 adults, ≥15 years). The prevalence of self-reported sleep complaints was estimated by ethnicity. The relationship between sleep complaints and mental health, physical health and health risk behaviors were investigated using multivariable logistic regression models. Results: The prevalence of each sleep complaint measure was highest for the indigenous Māori population (23.6% reported ‘any’ sleep complaint; 10.3% reported multiple sleep complaints). Reporting ‘any’ sleep complaint was associated with higher odds of poorer mental health, diagnosed high blood pressure, diagnosed diabetes, diagnosed heart disease, poor/fair self-rated health, obesity, current smoking, and hazardous drinking. Conclusion: The higher prevalence of sleep complaints among Māori and the consistent association with poor health suggests a potential role for suboptimal sleep in ethnic health inequities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Māori, the indigenous peoples of Aotearoa (New Zealand), continue to exhibit the highest rate of smoking of any ethnic group in the nation. Clarifying the present day factors which perpetuate Māori smoking has become matter of some urgency.Design: We investigate links between subjective elements of Māori identity, demographic factors and perceived discrimination with smoking status in a national probability sample of self-identified Māori (N = 667).Results: Our results suggest that core aspects of Māori identity and cultural engagement were not significantly linked with smoking. However, the extent to which participants felt they were perceived as prototypically Māori (measured as Perceived Appearance) was reliably associated with smoking. The effect of Perceived Appearance held when adjusting for perceived experiences of discrimination and other standard demographic indicators.Conclusion: Our analysis indicates that simply feeling that one is more visibly Māori is associated with an increased likelihood of smoking. This may reflect how Māori negotiate the larger systemic forces of racism present in New Zealand society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim.To investigate the influence of ethnicity on immediate and long-term (five years post-partum) foetal, maternal and injury-related outcomes. Methods.A retrospective, population-based study analysing maternal discharge records linked to birth/death certificates for women aged 25 years and under. Discharge records were grouped according to ethnicity (Maori and non-Maori) and as follows: (1) a pregnancy-related hospital admission, but no associated or subsequent assault recorded (pregnant only); (2) an assault-related hospital admission event after the pregnancy, but within five years of the index pregnancy (assault after pregnancy); and (3) an assault recorded within the same hospital admission event as the pregnancy (assault during pregnancy). Generalised linear models for the binomial family were conducted to explore increased risk ratios of pregnancy-related and subsequent injury outcomes depending on ethnicity and group assignment. Results.Compared with the pregnancy-only group, rate ratios (RRs) for maternal and foetal outcomes were higher in the assault after pregnancy group and the assault during pregnancy group. For injury outcomes in the five years after the injury event, RRs for the assault after pregnancy group exceeded both the pregnancy-only and the assault during pregnancy groups. RRs for non-Maori women assaulted after pregnancy were higher for injury hospitalisations, fracture and intracranial injury than those for Maori women. Conclusion.Given that Maori women experience a higher prevalence of severe intimate partner violence and more difficulties accessing health care, we suggest that the findings highlight potential problems for health care access for Maori women experiencing violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]