New Zealand. Ethnic mortality trends report

Citation

(2003), "New Zealand. Ethnic mortality trends report", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 16 No. 7. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijhcqa.2003.06216gab.008

New Zealand. Ethnic mortality trends report

New Zealand

Ethnic mortality trends reportKeywords: Mortality, Life expectancy, Inequalities, Health strategy, New Zealand

A new report, "Decades of disparity: ethnic mortality trends in New Zealand 1980-1999", shows that Maori and Pacific peoples have made little, if any, life expectancy gains in the past two decades. In contrast, life expectancy improved dramatically for European New Zealanders from 1980-1999. The report shows European New Zealanders now live ten years longer on average than Maori compared with a seven-year difference in the early 1980s and Pacific people now live an average of six or seven years fewer than European New Zealanders, compared with three to four years fewer in the early 1980s.

It has been recognised for a long time that Maori and Pacific peoples have poorer health than European New Zealanders, but it is a serious concern that during the 1980s and 1990s life expectancy improved for European New Zealanders but stayed much the same for Maori and Pacific peoples.

The main contributor to the growing inequality in survival chances between the ethnic groups is differing chronic disease mortality in middle and old age. Among the chronic diseases, heart disease death rates fell for all ethnic groups but at a much faster rate for European New Zealanders than others. Cancer, diabetes and chronic lung disease also make a substantial contribution to differing survival rates. Cancer death rates actually increased for Maori and Pacific peoples, while they decreased among European New Zealanders.

The report says the mortality trends coincide with major social and economic changes in New Zealand in the 1980s and 1990s.

The government is already committed to reducing health inequalities. The New Zealand health strategy, published in December 2000, provides an overall framework for the health sector, with the aim of directing health services at those areas that would ensure the greatest benefits for the population, and focusing on tackling inequalities in health. It has priority objectives to reduce inequalities including accessible and appropriate services for Maori and Pacific peoples.

It has also been recognised that primary health care will play a crucial part in reducing health inequalities and the Government has made available more than $400 million over three years to implement the Primary Health-Care Strategy, ensuring that primary health-care services focus on better health for all New Zealanders and actively work to reduce health inequalities between different groups.

Other actions to reduce inequalities include the Maori Health Action Plan 2002-2005, and the Pacific Health and Disability Action Plan introduced in February 2002.

Further information: The report, "Decades of disparity: ethnic mortality trends in New Zealand 1980-1999", a joint project of the Public Health Intelligence group of the Ministry of Health and the Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Otago, can be found on the Ministry of Health Web site at www.moh.govt.nz