Children from Pacific backgrounds are more than 100 times more likely to be hospitalized due to acute rheumatic fever (ARF), according to a report released by Cure Kids. The 2023 State of Child Health Report indicates that Pacific children face a hospitalization rate that is 115 times higher than their peers in Aotearoa, while Māori children are 46 times more likely to be hospitalized for the same condition.
The report also highlights that hospitalization rates for respiratory issues are 2.5 times higher among Pacific children, followed by Māori children at 1.8 times, with children from Middle Eastern, Latin American, or African backgrounds experiencing similar elevated rates.
During an interview on Pacific Mornings, Stuart Dalziel, chair of child health research at Cure Kids, pointed out that while Māori children are less than half as likely to be hospitalized for ARF compared to Pacific children, these hospitalization rates remain “unacceptable.” He emphasized that the healthcare system is failing both Māori and Pacific children and called for a focus on the factors that contribute to overall health, including proper nutrition, housing stability, and poverty alleviation.
Dalziel noted that while there has been some progress in combating rheumatic fever, there is still significant room for improvement. The study revealed that nearly 61 percent of ARF and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) hospitalizations in 2022 involved children living in economically deprived areas.
He added that the current rates of rheumatic fever remain alarmingly high, even if they have slightly decreased since 2012, and encouraged exploration of preventive measures, such as accessible programs targeting throat pain in schools and pharmacies.
Cure Kids identified five priority areas for addressing hospital admissions, including the management of respiratory issues, rheumatic fever, skin infections, dental health, and mental well-being.
Health Minister and Minister for Pacific Peoples, Dr. Shane Reti, noted that the report has spurred the creation of the Pacific Healthy Homes initiative, which was announced last month. The initiative is backed by $4.02 million in funding and aims to retrofit 600 Pacific homes in recognition of the link between moldy, damp living conditions and health issues, including respiratory problems and rheumatic fever.
Reti further discussed various initiatives aimed at preventing rheumatic fever and providing comprehensive support, such as offering free GP access for children under 14 and the implementation of a national coordination strategy. The Rheumatic Fever Roadmap 2023-2028, introduced by then-Associate Health Minister Barbara Edmonds last year, aims to tackle rheumatic fever and RHD within a five-year framework.
While acknowledging that there are various localized initiatives across the country, Reti mentioned the importance of unifying these efforts under a national rheumatic fever strategy.
When questioned about the government’s health response, Reti expressed the challenges involved, recognizing that the government had only recently assumed leadership in this area. He highlighted the disparity in vaccination rates, noting that only 78 percent of children are fully immunized by age two, instead of the targeted 95 percent, indicating a failure in meeting health objectives.
Reti urged that the true measure of the government’s effectiveness would come in two years, depending on improved immunization rates and reductions in RHD cases, at which point assessments of their accomplishments could be more accurately made.