Search

Introduction. Maternal vaccination against influenza and pertussis protects mothers and babies from severe disease and is recommended and funded in Aotearoa New Zealand. Despite this, maternal vaccination uptake is low, varies by region and is inequitable, with Māori and Pacific māmā (mothers) less likely to receive vaccination. Aim. To determine what interventions currently exist to support and encourage maternal vaccination against influenza and pertussis and what changes and interventions could be implemented to improve coverage, with a focus on Māori and Pacific hapū māmā (pregnant mothers). Methods. Interviews with six participants with diverse roles in the vaccination workforce were conducted. Participants were involved in education, certification and supporting vaccinators, high-level strategising, and vaccination. Interviews aimed to determine what interventions currently exist for hapū māmā, what changes need to be made to improve coverage and how Māori and Pacific people have been specifically engaged. Qualitative data analysis was used to determine themes. Results. Participants identified that interventions must focus on prioritising and emphasising the importance of maternal vaccination, promoting collaboration and innovation, making interventions accessible, and empowering Māori- and Pacific-driven avenues to vaccination. To create positive foundations, participants identified the importance of building and maintaining trust and affording mothers’ time and autonomy in vaccination. Discussion. Healthcare professionals need to proactively engage hapū māmā about vaccination and collaborate in service delivery. Interventions must be suitably accessible and allow for the autonomy of hapū māmā over vaccination decisions. Equity should be considered at the foundation of vaccine interventions to improve the accessibility of vaccines to all communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To understand adolescents' and their parents' perspectives on 'being active', this study explored the experience of participation in physical activity (PA), the role of long-term participation in PA, and the importance of remaining active for life. Methods: Eight ambulant adolescents with CP (aged 11–16 years, seven male) participated in a high-level mobility programme twice per week for 12 weeks. Guided using interpretive description, adolescents and 12 of their parents were interviewed before, after and nine months following the programme. Thirty-eight interviews were coded, analysed, and interpreted, informed by audit information, reflective journaling, and team discussions. Results: Adolescents and their parents highly value being active now and into adulthood. Sustainable participation in PA requires adolescents and families to navigate complex environments (interpersonal, organisational, community, and policy). Core themes were: 'Just Doing it', 'Getting the Mix Right' (right people, right place, right time), 'Balancing the Continua' and 'Navigating the Systems'. The continua involved balancing intra-personal attributes: 'I will try anything' through to 'I will do it if I want to' and 'It's OK to be different' through to 'It sucks being disabled'. Conclusions: The journey to sustainable participation was complex and dynamic. Experiences of successful journeys are needed to help adolescents with CP "stay on track" to sustainable participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bronchiectasis is a chronic respiratory disease that impacts significantly on quality of life for those who have it. There is a paucity of literature exploring the perspectives of children and young people. The aim of this study was to examine the day-to-day life experience of a group of young people with bronchiectasis. A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews explored fifteen young people's perspectives of life with bronchiectasis. Key themes were identified using an inductive iterative approach through constant comparative analysis guided by Thorne's interpretive description. Life with bronchiectasis was conceptualized by participants as "Pretty Normal". This consisted of two co-existing life views which represented how young people balanced the ups and downs of adolescence while learning to accommodate the demands of living with bronchiectasis. Three key thematic elements "sore and tired", 'life interrupted and "looking after self", influenced and challenged these two views of life. Young people with bronchiectasis portray life as being the same as their peers. Despite this, they recognized that the symptoms, interruptions, and self-management responsibilities led them to find ways of coping and integrating their experience into a new and modified view of normal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]