E mōhio ana mātou he iti ake te pā mai o te whānau kokoti ki ngā whānau Āhia me te Pākehā i o te Māori, te Pasifika me te Inia, ka mutu he nui ake te tūponotanga ka ora te pēpi mēnā ka whānau kokoti mai. Ehara ēnei rerekētanga i te tika, i te tōkeke. E pūmau ana mātou ki te whakapai ake i ngā manaaki me ngā tautoko whānau kokoti puta noa i Aotearoa, kia taea ai e mātou ngā putanga pai rawa mō ngā whānau katoa, ahakoa ko wai rātou, ā, kei hea e noho ana.
We know that Asian and European whānau experience preterm birth less often than Māori, Pacific and Indian whānau, and that their pēpi are more likely to survive if born very early. These differences are unjust and unfair. We are committed to improving preterm birth care and support across Aotearoa, so that we can achieve the best outcomes for all whānau, whoever they are and wherever they live.
Equity for All
Whānau Māori are more likely to experience preterm birth than other ethnic population groups in Aotearoa. Our most recently reported (2021) national rate of preterm birth for whānau Māori was 8.9% (and only 7.3% for European and 7.0% for Asian whānau). Pēpi Māori who are born very preterm (under 28 weeks) are less likely to survive than European or Asian pēpi.
These differences are not due to being Māori, but are driven by systemic problems that affect Māori and impact on general health and wellbeing and access to consistent high-quality healthcare. They include the effects of colonisation and racism, income disparity, housing and food security, culture and language (non-English speaking or English as a second language). All of which may impact on opportunities to access care early in pregnancy, engage with care that meets cultural and wellbeing needs and feel welcome within the health service.
The Carosika Collaborative will not be able to overcome all the drivers of inequity in preterm birth care and outcomes, but we aim to focus our mahi on those groups most in need. Through our research it is clear that whānau Māori experience significant racism and disrespect in our healthcare system. Care that is whānau centred and based on whanaungatanga and manaakitanga will better meet the needs of whānau Māori.
Whānau stories
He papakupu | List of commonly used words
| Premature or preterm birth | Whānau kokoti |
| Pregnancy | Hapūtanga |
| Fetus | Kukune |
| Baby | Pēpi |
| Mother | Whaea |
| Steroids | Pūtaiaki |
| Magnesium sulphate | Konupora pākawa pungatara |
| Uterus/ womb | Kōpū/whare tangata |
| Cervix | Waha kōpū |
| Cervical stitch | Tuitui waha kōpū |
| In utero | I rō kōpū |
| Amniotic fluid/ waters | Waikahu |
| Amniotic sac/ membranes | Kahu |
| Placenta | Whenua |
| Umbilical cord | Iho |
| Breech | Kōaro |
| Mucous plug/ show | Kati paheke |
| Miscarriage | Materoto |
| Preterm Premature Rupture of the Membranes (PPROM) | Ka moata te pakaru mai o te waikahu (PPROM) |
| Labour | Whakawhānau |
| Contraction | Kukutinga |
| Induction of labour/ induced | Rongoā kia whānau ai |
| Caesarean section | Whānau poka |
| Midwife | Kaiwhakawhānau / Kahu pōkai |
| Obstetrician | Rata whakawhānau |
| Paediatrician | Rata tamariki |
| Neonatologist | Rata pēpi hou |
| Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) | Taiwhanga Whāomoomo Pēpi Hou (NICU) |
| Special Care Babu Unit (SCBU) | Taiwhanga Maimoa Pēpi (SCBU) |
| Incubator | Pūrere awhi |
| Ventilator | Tuku hāora |
| Ultrasound | Oro ikeike |
| Fetal growth restriction/ small for gestational age | Iti te tipu o pēpi i rō kōpū |
| Preeclampsia | Toto pōrutu hapūtanga |
| Diabetes | Matehuka |
| Gestational diabetes | Matehuka hapūtanga |
| Haemorrhage | Ikura |
| Infection | Pokenga |
| Jaundice | Mate kōwhai |
| Hypertension | Toto pōrutu |