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Journal of Primary Health Care Journal of Primary Health Care Society
Journal of The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners
RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

Respiratory research with Māori and Pacific children living in Aotearoa, New Zealand: a systematic review and narrative synthesis

Amio Matenga-Ikihele https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0017-5137 1 * , Jacinta Fa’alili-Fidow https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1080-6089 1 , Dantzel Tiakia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7428-0680 1 , Dudley Gentles https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6061-910X 1 , John Natua 2 , Gemma Malungahu https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4154-8227 3 , Bernadette Tatafu 1 , Rudy Roodhouse-Hill 1 4 , Ruby Tuesday https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0575-5651 1 , Maria Ngawati 5 , Mataroria Lyndon https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5621-4839 6
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

1 Moana Connect, 141 Bader Drive, Mangere, Auckland, New Zealand.

2 Ministry for Pacific Peoples, 101–103 The Terrace, Wellington, New Zealand.

3 ANU College of Asia & the Pacific, The Australian National University, 9 Fellows Road, Canberra, Australia.

4 Kids First Childrens Hospital, 100 Hospital Road, Auckland 2025, New Zealand.

5 Hapai Te Hauora, 6/8 Pioneer Street, Henderson, Auckland 0612, New Zealand.

6 Centre for Medical and Health Sciences Education, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, 85 Park Road, Grafton, Auckland 1023, New Zealand.

* Correspondence to: amio@moanaconnect.co.nz

Handling Editor: Felicity Goodyear-Smith

Journal of Primary Health Care https://doi.org/10.1071/HC23066
Submitted: 16 June 2023  Accepted: 3 April 2024  Published: 24 April 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)

Abstract

Introduction

Improving the respiratory health of Māori and Pacific children in Aotearoa, New Zealand is a priority. Respiratory studies over the past decade have continued to highlight the ongoing inequities among Māori and Pacific children.

Aim

This systematic review aimed to explore the characteristics of respiratory research with Māori and Pacific children (0–14 years) living in New Zealand. Research objectives were to evaluate the types of study designs used, summarise participant demographics including ethnicity and evaluate whether culturally relevant frameworks were incorporated.

Methods

Studies were located across four databases: Medline, EBSCOHost, Scopus and PubMed, from 2010 to 2022. To qualify, studies needed to include (1) Māori or (2) Pacific children aged (3) 0–14 years and (4) describe a respiratory research project conducted in New Zealand. A narrative synthesis of the studies meeting the inclusion criteria was performed.

Results

Of the 539 studies identified, 29 met the inclusion criteria. Most studies were retrospective cohort studies with respiratory conditions focused mainly on asthma, group A streptococcus and lower respiratory tract infections. Four studies were qualitative, and only 2 of the 29 studies reported using a Kaupapa Māori framework.

Discussion

Despite the increased attention to the respiratory health of Māori and Pacific children, there is a lack of research on the lived experiences of whānau and their children who endure these conditions. Few studies incorporated culturally relevant approaches. Further research that incorporates culturally responsive approaches is urgently needed to enhance ourunderstanding of Māori and Pacific child respiratory health and to advance health equity.

Keywords: children, cultural frameworks, Māori health, Pacific health, respiratory conditions.

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