Parental education and hospitalisations among Pacific children: A cross-sectional study using linked administrative data in New Zealand’s Integrated Data Infrastructure

Kokaua, Jesse; Ruhe, Troy; Bowden, Nicholas; Theodore, Reremoana; Jensen, Seini; Jensen, Wilmason; Sorenson, Debra; Richards, Rosalina

doi:10.1080/03036758.2022.2094967

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 23 publications

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“…Moreover, recent evidence suggests Pacific peoples with higher levels of education have lower barriers to accessing healthcare and navigating health systems ( Lilo et al, 2020 ). For example, in a recent study, higher parental education was associated with lower incidence of potentially avoidable hospitalisations in Pacific children ( Kokaua et al, 2023 ). Therefore, shortcomings in the health system to provide accessible services to all Pacific families may also explain lower rates of autism diagnosis among those families with lower levels of formal education.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is parent education a factor in identifying autism/takiwātanga in an ethnic cohort of Pacific children in Aotearoa, New Zealand? A national cross-sectional study using linked administrative data

Kokaua,

Kolose-Pulefolau,

Ruhe

et al. 2023

Autism

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Studies have found early detection of autism is protective for an individual and their family. Fewer Pacific children are diagnosed with autism compared with non-Pacific children, and those who have significantly higher needs, suggesting an undercount of those diagnosed. The purpose of this study was to explore any association between parental education and autism in Pacific children living in Aotearoa, New Zealand. This was a national cross-sectional study using data from New Zealand’s Integrated Data Infrastructure, including Pacific and non-Māori non-Pacific children in the 2013 Census. A novel method was employed to capture autism, while years of parents’ education was estimated from their highest attained qualification level. Apposite regression models were used to analyse the relationship between parental education and autism. We found that autism was identified in 1.1% of Pacific children compared with 1.6% of non-Māori, non-Pacific children. A year of education among parents of Pacific children was associated with increased identification of autism (odds ratio = 1.10; 95% confidence interval = 1.06–1.15). The findings show education plays a positive role in receiving a diagnosis for Pacific autistic children but suggest a systemic failure to support Pacific parents to navigate existing health systems for themselves or their children. Lay abstract Previous studies of autism in Aotearoa, New Zealand, suggest that fewer Pacific children receive an autism diagnosis compared to European children. This study aimed to explore if formal education qualification of parents is related to receiving an autism diagnosis for their Pacific child. Our findings show that autism was identified in 1.1% of Pacific children compared with 1.6% among non-Māori, non-Pacific children. Parents with higher levels of education were more likely to receive an autism diagnosis for their Pacific child. While the study findings indicate education plays a positive role in receiving a diagnosis for autistic children, they suggest a systemic failure of supporting Pacific parents and communities to navigate the health and education systems that exist in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%