Home > Review Articles > Screening > Journey towards piloting Helicobacter pyloriscreen-and-treat to address health inequitie sin Aotearoa New Zealand

Journey towards piloting Helicobacter pyloriscreen-and-treat to address health inequitie sin Aotearoa New Zealand

Making Education Easy

Authors:
Summary:

A paper reviewing H. pylori infection, sequelae and testing in New Zealand has suggested there is an urgent need to introduce a Māori-led, screen-and-treat pilot for the infection. The prevalence of H. pylori is higher in Māori and Pacific peoples compared with Europeans, but they are less likely to be tested for the infection. They are also more likely to be hospitalised for peptic ulcer and to develop gastric cancer than Europeans.

Comment:
Getting H. pylori testing and treatment right is so important for Māori and Pacific peoples who have higher rates of both H. pylori infection and associated gastric cancer. International research now shows that H. pylori is the single greatest modifiable risk factor for gastric cancer and may carry a greater population-level risk than inherited stomach cancer gene syndromes. Together, these papers demonstrate that inequities in testing, access to treatment, and early intervention are not just issues of infection management, but major contributors to preventable cancer inequities, reinforcing the importance of Māori-led approaches.
Reference: Helicobacter. 2026;31(2):e70123.
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.

Research Review publications are intended for New Zealand health professionals.

Disclaimer: This publication is not intended as a replacement for regular medical education but to assist in the process. The reviews are a summarised interpretation of the published study and reflect the opinion of the writer rather than those of the research group or scientific journal. It is suggested readers review the full trial data before forming a final conclusion on its merits.

Related Articles

Despite overall improvement in life expectancy in New Zealand, according to a cause-specific decomposition analysis

A retrospective study has highlighted ethnic disparities in the utilisation of epidural analgesia at Christchurch

Explore Māori Health Reviews

Dive into our publications and videos content from over 50 areas of medicine including Cardiology, Diabetes, Oncology, Haematology and Psychiatry. 

It looks like you are closest to our Australia site.

Australia
Australia
Find Reviews in Your Clinical Area
Please select your country of practice.
Terms and Conditions

Website terms of use 

By using our website, you agree to follow these terms and conditions. 

 

Privacy policy 

We take your privacy seriously. To understand how we collect, use, and protect your information, please read our Privacy Policy, which is part of these terms. 

 

Copyright and use of website content 

The content of our website is protected by copyright, trademarks, and other legal rights. You can: view, download, or print a single copy of content for your personal or professional use. 

You cannot:  copy, modify, or distribute website content, or use our website content for commercial purposes or in other works without permission. 

 

Links to third-party websites 

The Research Review website may link to third-party websites for your convenience. However: 

We do not endorse or approve their products, services, or actions. 

We are not responsible for their content or how they operate. 

There is no formal partnership between us and third parties unless we clearly state otherwise. 

 

Disclaimer and limitation of liability 

We do our best to keep the information on our website accurate, but we do not guarantee that it is always correct or up to date. 

To the fullest extent allowed by law, we are not responsible for: 

Any loss, damage, or costs you may suffer from using (or being unable to use) our website. 

Any decisions you make based on the information provided. 

Any business losses, such as lost profits, lost data, or business interruptions. 

 

Governing law 

These terms are governed by New Zealand law. If there is a dispute, it must be resolved in a New Zealand court.