Aim: Cervical cancer is now preventable with human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and HPV screening. However, structural health system barriers in rural areas can inhibit screening access. Inequitable access for rural Māori is exacerbated by social determinants and racism.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAims: Cervical cancer remains a burden within Aotearoa New Zealand, with 2022 screening rates sitting 12.7% below target. The National Cervical Screening Programme has changed to primary human papillomavirus (HPV) testing for all screen-eligible people, with the aim for home self-testing.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Cervical cancer is caused by high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV). Testing for high-risk HPV is a more sensitive screening method than cervical cytology for detecting cervical changes that may lead to cancer. Consistent with recent evidence of efficacy and acceptability, Aotearoa New Zealand plans to introduce HPV testing as the primary approach to screening, replacing cervical cytology, from mid-2023.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Indigenous women in the high-income countries of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and USA, have a higher incidence and mortality from cervical cancer than non-Indigenous women. Increasing cervical screening coverage could ultimately decrease cervical cancer disparities.
Aims: To increase cervical screening for under-screened/never-screened Māori women.
Introduction: Pre-eclampsia and related sequelae are a leading cause of severe maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. A significant proportion of these poor outcomes may be preventable with improvements along the continuum of maternal and neonatal care.
Aims: The aim of this study was to review cases of pre-eclampsia resulting in severe maternal morbidity, describing the maternal and neonatal outcomes and the potential preventability of severe maternal morbidity (SMM).
Background: Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) is a relatively new screen for congenital conditions - specifically, common fetal aneuploidies including Down Syndrome. The test is based on isolating freely circulating fragments of fetal-placental DNA that is present in the mother's blood. NIPT has a superior clinical performance compared to current screening, and has been available privately in Aotearoa New Zealand for the last 4 years.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Despite a major reduction in overall infant mortality, sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) continues to be of concern in New Zealand, as the rate is high by international standards, and is even higher in indigenous Māori.
Aim: To identify modifiable risk factors for SUDI.
Methods: A three-year (1 March 2012-28 February 2015) nationwide case-control study was conducted in New Zealand.
Community Ment Health J
November 2016
To explore access to secondary mental health services for New Zealand women during pregnancy and for up to 1 year post-delivery. A retrospective cohort analysis of public hospital maternity data linked to mental health collections. 27 in 1000 pregnancies were associated with access to secondary mental health services (736/27,153).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Significant health inequities exist around maternal and infant health for Māori, the indigenous people of New Zealand. The infants of Māori are more likely to die in their first year of life and also have higher rates of hospital admission for respiratory illnesses, with the greatest burden of morbidity being due to bronchiolitis in those under one year of age. Timely immunisations can prevent some respiratory related hospitalisations, although for Māori, the proportion of infants with age appropriate immunisations are lower than for non-Māori.
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