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Analysis of a Māori-led diabetes support programme, Mana Tū, has identified barriers, facilitators and motivators for Māori and Pacific peoples with type 2 diabetes. The study used a Kaupapa Māori approach to conduct 22 semi-structured interviews with participants of Mana Tū and their whanau living in Auckland and Northland. Key themes identified were: (1) whānau experience of type 2 diabetes, (2) cultural safety in healthcare interactions, (3) whānau ora (collective family wellbeing) and (4) Kaupapa Māori approaches to health interventions. Themes were consistent across Māori and Pacific participants. The study authors concluded that Māori-led health interventions are needed to ensure that Māori and Pacific peoples with type 2 diabetes receive appropriate, responsive and equitable healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lack of access remains a crucial barrier to improved health outcomes for children with obesity in New Zealand, according to an interview-based study. A total of 64 semi-structured interviews were conducted for 71 participants of a family-based multidisciplinary healthy lifestyle programme for children and adolescents. Half the interviews were with Māori families. Five health system factors affecting engagement were identified via thematic analysis: the national policy environment, funding constraints, lack of coordination between services, difficulty navigating the health system, and the cost of primary health care. The authors concluded that comprehensive approaches, accompanied by a clear implementation strategy and coordinated across sectors, are needed to improve engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Māori are significantly less likely to receive colonoscopy than NZ Europeans, according to a retrospective comparative study conducted at Whanganui Hospital. The study analysed 2962 colonoscopies (385 from Māori; 2577 from NZ Europeans) between September 2016 and March 2020. The rate of colonoscopy provision in participants aged ≥40 years was 6.1% among Māori versus 9.1% among NZ Europeans (p < 0.0001). However, colonoscopy completion rates, colonoscope withdrawal times and polyp detection rates were similar between Māori and NZ Europeans. While the adenoma detection rate was significantly lower in Māori than NZ Europeans (32.7% vs 40.0%; p = 0.028), this was not observed when participants were stratified by 10-year age cohorts. The authors concluded that improving equity requires the addition of colonoscopy provision rates, across ethnic groups, to other key performance indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Kaupapa Māori meta-synthesis has evaluated the epidemiology of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in indigenous peoples. Quantitative studies involving Māori, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Métis, First Nations Peoples of Canada, First Nations Peoples of the United States of America, Native Hawaiian and Indigenous Peoples of Taiwan were screened, and 180 studies published up to 31 December 2019 were included. The David R Williams framework was used to categorise findings. Biological processes, particularly type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, were frequently reported as the principal cause of health inequities in indigenous peoples with CKD. Social and basic causes of disparities, including racism, economic and political/legal structures and socioeconomic status, were infrequently reported or absent in the reviewed literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An interview-based study has highlighted the multifaceted benefits of participating in waka ama. As well as the health benefits for paddlers, waka ama also has a strong tikanga, encouraging use of te reo Māori through karakia, waiata, and terms associated with waka. Opportunities are created for participants to experience and connect with the natural environment. The researchers concluded that their study shows effective ways of improving health and well-being within communities with a particular focus on waiora, the spiritual connection between hauora and the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public health researchers have proposed an expansion of the national COVID-19 alert level system. They note that several aspects of the current system have not worked adequately for Māori. The revised alert levels range from 0 through 6, with Levels 0-1 representing prepare (green), Levels 2-4 representing stop the spread (amber) and Levels 5-6 representing stay-at-home (red). Benefits of the revised system include: upholding Te Tiriti and implementing a more equitable response, better calibrating controls to the level of risk, responding to new knowledge, signalling improvements and innovation, supporting harmonisation with Australia (and the wider world), and establishing protective measures for a safer future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a web-based survey of 1824 New Zealanders conducted before the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, 70% of respondents indicated they would likely take the vaccine once available. Survey respondents were part of a large, diverse, pre-existing social research sampling frame. Respondents who were unsure about or unlikely to get the vaccine were more likely to be young, female, and less educated, and were primarily concerned about unknown future side effects. There was no statistical association between ethnicity and vaccine hesitancy. The researchers suggested that public health efforts aimed at increasing vaccine acceptance among Māori and Pacific peoples should focus on inequities in health care access to increase uptake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]