Earlier ear screening for Māori and Pacific kids could address treatment gaps

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2022-04-14 13:00

New Zealand

Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr - Eden's paediatrician Aunt Sara checks her ears - https://www.flickr.com/photos/edenpictures/3135165977

Grommets - ventilation tubes (VT) - are often used to treat middle ear diseases in preschool Kiwis. Māori and Pacific children are more likely to have these infections that can lead to hearing loss - about a quarter of Pacific two-year-olds are affected. However, the VT insertion rates for Counties Manukau Māori and Pacific children in 2018 were less than half those of their peers in Auckland DHB. The authors say these inequities suggest major barriers to treatment, and point to a need for targeted screening to help pick up ear disease at age 2-3, and in those who miss the B4 School Check of 4-year-olds.

Media release

From: New Zealand Medical Association (NZMA)

Ventilation tubes (VTs) or grommets are a common surgical treatment for recurrent middle ear disease in pre-school children (0–4-year-olds), however the rates of procedures do not appear to align with disease burden. Māori and Pacific children generally experience a greater burden of ear disease, but have lower rates of VT insertions compared to European children of the same age group. The differences in ethnicity are more pronounced in Counties Manukau DHB, compared to Auckland DHB and the national average. These persisting ethnic and regional inequities in treatment rates highlight ongoing socioeconomic and cultural barriers in accessing surgical services for Māori and Pacific populations, as well as the gaps in our current screening services for middle ear disease in children.

Journal/
conference: NZMJ

Organisation/s: University of Auckland, Health Quality & Safety Commission, Counties Manukau District Health Board (NZ)

Funder: No competing interests. The authors would like to acknowledge the support of Kupu Taurangi Hauora o Aotearoa and the Health Quality & Safety Commission, in particular Alexis Wevers, for providing additional data analysis.

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