In this disadvantaged predominately Maori and Pacific population, picornavirus is commonly found as a sole virus, respiratory syncytial virus is frequent but immunisation preventable influenza is infrequent. We did not find that co-detection of viruses was linked to severity.
The experience of having a child hospitalised is stressful and disrupts families in myriad ways; however, the experiences of parents/caregivers who encounter repeated admissions of a child with acute lower respiratory infections are under-researched. This project aims to explore these experiences, from a qualitative perspective, using the philosophical tenets of reflective lifeworld research. The research included 14 face-to-face interviews with parents, grandparents, or primary caregivers, of children who, whilst under two years of age, were admitted to hospital multiple times with a lower respiratory infection diagnosis. Many of the participants were from Māori or Samoan ethnic backgrounds. The findings of this single site study revealed that these parents/caregivers' experiences were characterised by feelings of powerlessness, offering descriptions of hospitals as harsh and difficult places to reside, they are 'in-hospitable'. The findings suggest that repeated hospitalisations created a cycle of stressful experiences that impacted both familial relationships and interactions with society. This study draws attention to this previously obscured population group, and calls health care practitioners and policy advisors to engage differently over issues involving families in similar positions.
Introduction: Hospitalization of children is traumatic for children and their families.Little is known about the impact of repeated acute admissions on families, or of these experiences in Indigenous populations and ethnic minorities. This study explores the societal and health experiences for families who have a child under two years of age, admitted to hospitals more than twice for lower respiratory infections.Methods: Underpinned by a reflective lifeworld research methodology, this article presents results from 14 in-depth interviews in Aotearoa/New Zealand.Results: Families learn to identify illness early and then navigate hospital systems.These families struggle to create safe spaces for their children at home or in society.Wider social and economic support are central to family resilience, without which they struggle.
Conclusion:This study reinforces the importance of bringing meaningful, culturallyresponsive care to the fore of treatment, particularly when managing vulnerable minorities. Formal referral and support processes are key to this responsiveness to lessen the burdens of acute admissions for families.Patient or Public Contribution: Families chose to be involved in this study to highlight the importance of the topic and their experiences with accessing health care. The cultural advisors to the project provided feedback on the analysis and its applicability for the participant community.
Background
Health systems often fail to address the wellbeing needs of older Indigenous populations; this is attributed to a lack of knowledge of Indigenous health systems arising from a privileging of dominant western biomedical epistemologies. In Aotearoa/New Zealand, there is a dearth of nursing knowledge relating to Māori, which negatively impacts on the provision of holistic nursing care. This research explores insights and perspectives of older Māori adult’s (pakeke) perceptions of wellbeing so nurses can provide culturally responsive care and support the wellbeing of Indigenous New Zealanders.
Methods
An Indigenous kaupapa Māori methodology underpinned and directed this research project. Audio-recorded interviews were conducted face to face in participants’ homes, marae (meeting house) and workplaces. Pakeke over the age of 55 participated in in-depth interviews. A total of 10 pakeke were interviewed and narratives were thematically analysed in accordance with meanings derived from Māori worldviews.
Results
Wellbeing was attributed to the holistic interconnection and balancing of whānau (wider family), whanaungatanga (social connectedness), hinengaro (mental and emotional wellbeing), taha tinana (physical wellbeing) and wairua (spirituality).
Conclusion
The findings offer unique insights into how wellbeing is constructed for pakeke; the results are unique but consistent with international accounts of older Indigenous peoples. Pakeke wellbeing can be supported by acknowledging existing cultural and spiritual beliefs and peer-support initiatives. Nursing models of care should prioritise Indigenous ways of knowing; this research offers nursing-focused recommendations to improve care.
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