April 12, 2017
Poverty and prejudice adding insult to injury
One in five Maori are still disabled two years after a major injury, according to University of Otago researchers.
Analysis of patient-reported and Accident Compensation Corporation data shows Maori experience considerable longer-term disability after injury.
Lead researcher Dr Emma Wyeth says pre-injury conditions like inadequate household income or two or more chronic health conditions are predictors of long term disability.
Injured Maori may also have difficulties accessing health services such as general practices and hospitals, which can lead to long-term disability.
Even when Maori are able to access health services, including ACC, less equitable outcomes compared to non-Maori are still apparent.
Dr Wyeth is now leading a new Health research Council-funded project to confirm specific areas and factors that health services should be focusing on to improve Maori post-injury outcomes and reduce the burden of post-injury disability.
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