More is becoming known about the importance of sleep to health, with inadequate sleep recognised as a significant public health issue. Sleep clinics have reported disproportionate numbers of Mà„ori and Pacific peoples with more severe obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS), raising concerns about accessibility of services and possible differences in prevalence between ethnic groups.
Prevalence information on sleep disorders in Aotearoa is needed to assess its public health impact and plan for population health care needs. This thesis presents a national study examining the prevalence of OSAS symptoms and risk factors among Maori and non-Maori adults in Aotearoa.
This project is also situated within the wider scope of ethnic inequalities in health between Maori and non-Maori and is concerned with making a positive contribution to Maori health and the elimination of disparities. Kaupapa Maori Research (KMR) is the underlying methodology that drives this study. As such, it assumes a Maori norm, and prioritises Maori needs. A Maori/non-Maori analytical framework is used that distinguishes Maori as tangata whenua, addresses Maori health needs as well as non-Maori, and enables the monitoring of guarantees as outlined by the Treaty of Waitangi.
The goals of this thesis were to estimate the prevalence of OSAS symptoms and risk factors among Maori and non-Maori adults in New Zealand, and to examine independent predictive variables for specific OSAS symptoms. An objective was also to contribute to KMR through designing and undertaking a KMR project using a quantitative method, with the development of concepts for use in other areas of research.
In April 1999, a short questionnaire was sent to a sample of 10000 New Zealands (5500 of Maori descent and 4500 non-Maori participants to enable research questions to be examined with equal statistical power for both groups.
The results demonstrate that the prevalence of OSAS symptoms and risk factors, particularly among non-Maori, are comparable to other international studies, indicating that OSAS is likely to be a common problem among adults in Aotearoa. Furthermore, the results suggest that Maori are significantly more likely to suffer from OSAS than non-Maori, with higher rates of symptoms and risk factors of OSAS among both men and women. As an area of medicine that is under-serviced in Aotearoa, the results provide important information with which to plan for population needs.
There are a number of health implications from this study, relating specifically to the diagnosis and management of OSAS in Aotearoa, and to Maori health and the elimination of disparities. These are multi-levelled and include health service implications across the continuum of care, from specialist sleep services to primary care; public health implications that involve preventive measures and broader determinants of health; and KMR principles that can be applied to interventions and health research in general. As a KMR project the implications and recommendations focus on Maori health research in general. As a KMR project the implications and recommendations focus on Maori health gain and addressing disparities in health. This is consistent with Maori health rights, and a population approach that considers health inequalities and the role of wider determinants of health and health services.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/217544 |
| Date | January 2003 |
| Creators | Harris, Ricci, n/a |
| Publisher | University of Otago. Weelington School of Medicine & Health Sciences |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | http://policy01.otago.ac.nz/policies/FMPro?-db=policies.fm&-format=viewpolicy.html&-lay=viewpolicy&-sortfield=Title&Type=Academic&-recid=33025&-find), Copyright Ricci Harris |
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