A scoping review has highlighted the range of interventions and initiatives undertaken in New Zealand to prevent untreated group A Streptococcus and rheumatic fever, focusing on the Māori and Pasifika communities. A total of 58 studies detailing 57 interventions were identified from searches of Scopus, Medline, EMBASE and CINAHL, as well as grey literature sources. Interventions included school-based throat swabbing, awareness and education, housing, secondary prophylaxis, improving primary care guidelines and diagnosis of sore throats and skin infections. Short-term outcomes of improved awareness, a reduction in rheumatic fever risk and fewer hospitalisations were reported for some interventions. However, many initiatives lacked evaluation outcomes. Māori and Pasifika people primarily served in an advisory or delivery capacity only, rather than as partners in co-design or leadership of initiatives. The study authors noted that rheumatic fever rates in New Zealand have not shown any long-term reduction, and that co-designing interventions could ensure that strategies are better targeted to affected communities.
