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A Liggins Institute study has found the most pressing research questions around mother and baby healthcare relate to improving outcomes for Māori and Pacific whanau.
Lead researcher Katie Groom says the study was done for ON TRACK, the national clinical trials network, to identify gaps in current knowledge of pregnancy and newborn care.
The top 20 priorities all related directly to Māori and Pacific health.
Associate Professor Groom says research topics needed to be suitable for clinical trials or large observational studies.
She says there’s currently a cookie-cutter model of pregnancy care where everyone gets a similar approach, whereas Māori pregnancy outcomes could be improved by the care that includes their whānau and iwi.
Research is also needed to understand enablers and barriers to training Māori doctors and midwives, and whether current training models work for Māori.
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