Pediatric anesthesia in Australia and New Zealand and health inequity among First Nations and Māori children
Pediatric Anesthesia
Submitted November 2024 by Dr Meghan Cooney
Read by 69 Journal Watch subscribers
This article provides excellent context for starting to understand health inequity among First Nations and Māori children and young people in Australia and New Zealand. It is essential reading as we endeavour to improve our comprehension of the peri-operative journey and provide better cultural safety when we work with patients and families from First Nations and Māori communities.
Notably, the authors consulted with First Nations people from the Northern Territory and Dr Dash Newington, an Arrernte woman from the Central Australian Desert Country, Paediatric Anaesthetist. Author, Dr Jane Thomas, also identifies as Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungungu.
The geographical challenges for access to care are described clearly in this paper. The implications for First Nations and Māori patients and families of being in healthcare settings so far away from home and community could have been further explored, though this may reflect the lack of literature available to cover this. The authors have taken care to use strong language in reference to the lasting intergenerational effects of colonisation, as it continues to have a devastating impact on health outcomes for these populations.
The article provides a detailed exploration of paediatric anaesthesia in Australia and New Zealand including training and professional organisations such as SPANZA. They highlight that both ANZCA and SPANZA support efforts working towards health equity. The NZ Māori Anesthetists Netwrok Aotearoa (MANA) and Pasifika Anesthetists in Aotearoa (PAiA) have been established to ensure Māori and Pacific trainees and fellows are supported and ensure future growth of the Māori and Pacific anaesthetic workforce.
Some notable facts from the article include:
- The University of Auckland Anaesthesiology Dept has established a committee that reviews all research proposals through a Māori perspective.
- There is a relative paucity of literature looking at ethnic differences in peri-operative outcomes and inequities for Māori and Pacific children in New Zealand, as well as First Nations children in Australia.
- First Nations and Māori people are underrepresented in the healthcare workforce.
It is evident that there is urgent need for more research further examining the perioperative journey for patients and families with First Nations or Māori background; to review factors that drive health inequity, and to determine how to improve their care in anaesthesia and pain management. This article artfully “highlights the importance of clinicians having an appreciation of First Nations peoples’ and Māori history and culture, language, family-centered care and cultural safety.”
This topic can be further explored through the ANZCA library guide https://libguides.anzca.edu.au/indigenous
