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Health system barriers to accessing care for children with weight issues in New Zealand

Making Education Easy

From Māori Health Review Issue 93
Authors:
  • Wild CE et al.
Summary:

Lack of access remains a crucial barrier to improved health outcomes for children with obesity in New Zealand, according to an interview-based study. A total of 64 semi-structured interviews were conducted for 71 participants of a family-based multidisciplinary healthy lifestyle programme for children and adolescents. Half the interviews were with Māori families. Five health system factors affecting engagement were identified via thematic analysis: the national policy environment, funding constraints, lack of coordination between services, difficulty navigating the health system, and the cost of primary health care. The authors concluded that comprehensive approaches, accompanied by a clear implementation strategy and coordinated across sectors, are needed to improve engagement.

Comment:
As a recent British Medical Journal article commented, childhood obesity, and children’s exposure to obesogenic environments, may have been exacerbated by COVID-19 and its lockdowns (see BMJ. 2021;374:n1716). COVID-19 demonstrated that governments can act swiftly to enable interventions for the public good. Let’s encourage a similar response for our tamariki.
Reference: Health Serv Res Policy. 2021:13558196211016011 [online ahead of print].
Abstract
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Independent commentary by Dr. Matire Hardwood

Dr Matire Harwood (Ngapuhi) has worked in Hauora Māori, primary health and rehabilitation settings as clinician and researcher since graduating from Auckland Medical School in 1994. She also holds positions on a number of boards, committees and advisory groups including the Health Research Council. Matire lives in Auckland with her whānau including partner Haunui and two young children Te Rangiura and Waimarie.

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