European women are significantly less likely to give birth to extremely or very preterm infants compared with Māori women, and their infants are at lower risk of early neonatal or post-neonatal death, according to a Kaupapa Māori research study. The study analysed maternity, mortality and hospital data for women and their infants born in New Zealand between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2014. The adjusted relative risk of having an extremely or very preterm infant was 0.86 (95% CI 0.76-0.95) for European women compared with Māori women. Corresponding adjusted relative risks of early neonatal death and post-neonatal death were 0.65 (95% CI 0.45-0.93) and 0.41 (95% CI 0.26-0.64), respectively. In addition to ethnicity, the risk of preterm birth was also influenced by maternal age, body mass index, smoking status and small for gestational age status. The study authors concluded that the New Zealand maternity system privileges whiteness, and that evidence-based medical care is not delivered systemically and equitably for all.
