Māori and Pasifika Whānau expertise and experiences in the ear and hearing health system in the Counties Manukau Region, Auckland

Unaddressed hearing loss and middle ear problems have lifelong implications for speech and language development, social skills, education, and future employment opportunities. In Aotearoa New Zealand, Māori and Pasifika peoples are overrepresented in ear and hearing health statistics and experience many unmet needs. Despite the promise of equal outcomes under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, there is a well-established body of literature reporting poor health-related outcomes for Māori and Pasifika peoples. <i>Tamariki</i> (children) and their <i>whānau</i> (families) face a range of multi-factorial barriers when accessing ear and hearing health services. This study aims to explore the experiences of Māori and Pasifika whānau accessing these services in the Counties Manukau region, Auckland. The research was guided by Kaupapa Māori and Pan-Pacific research principles, which aim to address power relationships in research, critique deficit discourses, and maintain high quality standards for Māori and Pacific health research. Six whānau interviews were conducted and thematic analysis of data resulted in three themes – Whānau are experts, Power and control, and What makes a good ear and hearing health service. In addition, Māori and Pasifika whānau made suggestions for improvements in ear and hearing healthcare, which will inform larger scale ear and hearing health projects in NZ. <b>Glossary of Māori words:</b> hapū: kinship group, clan, tribe, subtribe – section of a large kinship group; iwi: tribe, nation, people, nationality, race; karakia: prayer, grace, blessing; lotu: prayer, blessing; Māori: normal, ordinary, indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand; mokopuna: grandchild, great-nephew or great-niece; Pākehā: (Te Reo Māori) European; Papa'a: (Cook Island Māori) European; raranga: weaving; tamariki: children; taonga: treasure; Tauiwi: (Te Reo Māori) non-Māori people of Aotearoa New Zealand; Te Taiao: world; Earth; natural world; environment; tikanga: correct procedure, custom, method, manner, rule, way, code, practice; wāhine: woman, female; whakapapa: genealogy; lineage; descent; whānau: extended family network, family group.

未经干预的听力损失与中耳问题，会对言语语言发育、社交技能、教育以及未来就业机会产生终身影响。在新西兰奥特亚罗瓦（Aotearoa New Zealand），毛利人（Māori）与太平洋岛民（Pasifika）群体在耳部与听力健康统计数据中占比偏高，且存在大量未被满足的健康需求。尽管《怀唐伊条约》（Te Tiriti o Waitangi）承诺实现平等的健康结局，但已有大量成熟的学术文献指出，毛利人与太平洋岛民群体的健康相关结局不佳。<i>塔玛里基（Tamariki）</i>（儿童）及其<i>瓦纳乌（whānau）</i>（大家庭/家族群体）在获取耳部与听力健康服务时，面临一系列多因素交织的障碍。本研究旨在探索奥克兰地区马努考郡（Counties Manukau）内毛利人与太平洋岛民瓦纳乌群体获取此类服务的经历。本研究遵循毛利本土研究框架（Kaupapa Māori）与泛太平洋研究原则，其目标在于厘清研究中的权力关系、批判缺陷话语，并为毛利与太平洋健康研究维持高标准。本研究共开展6次瓦纳乌群体访谈，通过对数据进行主题分析，最终提炼出三大主题：瓦纳乌是专家、权力与掌控感，以及何为优质的耳部与听力健康服务。此外，毛利人与太平洋岛民瓦纳乌群体还就耳部与听力医疗服务的改进提出了建议，这些建议将为新西兰更大规模的耳部与听力健康项目提供参考。<b>毛利语词汇表：</b>哈普（hapū）：亲属群体、氏族、部落、亚部落——大型亲属群体的分支；伊维（iwi）：部落、民族、族群、国籍、种族；卡拉基亚（karakia）：祈祷、感恩祷告、祈福；洛图（lotu）：祈祷、祈福；毛利人（Māori）：新西兰奥特亚罗瓦的本土原住民；莫库普纳（mokopuna）：孙辈、侄孙辈或甥孙辈；帕凯哈（Pākehā）：（毛利语）欧洲裔；帕帕阿（Papa'a）：（库克群岛毛利语）欧洲裔；拉兰加（raranga）：编织；塔玛里基（tamariki）：儿童；陶恩加（taonga）：珍宝；陶伊维（Tauiwi）：（毛利语）新西兰奥特亚罗瓦的非毛利族群；泰塔奥（Te Taiao）：世界、地球、自然世界、环境；蒂坎加（tikanga）：正确流程、习俗、方法、方式、规则、路径、准则、惯例；瓦希内（wāhine）：女性、雌性；瓦卡帕帕（whakapapa）：家谱、世系、血统；瓦纳乌（whānau）：大家庭网络、家族群体。