Discrimination linked to fewer medical visits for Pacific Rainbow+ patients

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2026-02-13 00:01

New Zealand; Pacific

PHOTO: Sophie Popplewell/Unsplash

For someone who is Pacific Rainbow+, experiencing just one instance of discrimination in NZ healthcare increases the future likelihood of avoiding healthcare services by 60%. In an NZ Medical Journal paper, researchers looked at survey data from almost 400 people who identified as both Pacific and Rainbow+ (an inclusive term encompassing sexual and gender diversity). They found respondents were also more likely to use mental health services after experiencing racial and ethnic-based discrimination. The team says it's critically important to address ethnicity, sexuality, and gender diversity-based discrimination experienced by Pacific Rainbow+ communities.

News release

From: New Zealand Medical Journal

Our research illuminates the connection between experiencing discrimination and the likelihood of avoiding healthcare services among Aotearoa New Zealand’s Pacific Rainbow+ community. Drawing data from the Manalagi Survey, which surveyed over 480 Pacific Rainbow+ individuals in the country, our statistical analyses found that experiencing a single incident of discrimination, as reported by respondents, increased their likelihood of avoiding future healthcare services by 60%. This is concerning as we know that both Pacific and Rainbow+ individuals are likely to have more challenges to their overall health and wellbeing than non-Māori, non-Pacific and straight, cisgender New Zealanders. Avoidance of healthcare services as a result of discrimination must be addressed in our healthcare system.

Journal/
conference: New Zealand Medical Journal

Organisation/s: University of Auckland, University of Waikato, Unitec New Zealand, F’INE Pasifika Aotearoa Trust

Funder: The authors would like to acknowledge the support of the Knowledge Hub in the Faculty of Medical Health Sciences at Waipapa Taumata Rau, The University of Auckland, for providing additional support to the Manalagi research team. The Manalagi Project is funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand.

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