Ethnicity data in health needs ‘urgent attention’

NEWS - eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth

Protocols around collecting ethnicity data in health are not being adhered to, in part because some IT systems are preventing it, a new report says.

The ‘action plan for achieving high quality ethnicity data in the health and disability sector’ says ethnicity data quality for Māori requires “urgent attention” and a lead agency should be responsible for achieving high quality ethnicity data in health.

High quality data requires adherence to protocols, such as the HISO Ethnicity Data Protocols.

“Despite the protocols being in existence for nearly 20 years, there is evidence that they are not being adhered to and Māori have continued to be systematically undercounted over this time period,” the action plan says.

Recent audits of ethnicity data quality show that one in five Māori were not identified as Māori on the National Health Index (NHI) when compared to self-identified ethnicity recorded on the Census.

You’ve read this article for free, but good journalism takes time and resource to produce. Please consider supporting eHealthNews by becoming a member of HiNZ, for just $17 a month.

It is consistently worse for Māori males than Māori females and particularly poor for those ages 20-24 years, where the NHI misses almost one in three Māori.

Ethnicity data are used to allocate funding to address Māori health needs and identify Māori for targeted health services as bowel screening at an earlier age. Also to monitor the health system’s performance in regards to Māori heath and increase representation of Māori in the workforce.

The report, commissioned by Te Aka Whai Ora, says responsibility for improving ethnicity data quality sits with the entire health sector, but there is no identifiable person or group with overall responsibility.

“Te Aka Whai Ora should work with Te Whatu Ora and Manatū Hauora to identify a lead agency responsible for achieving high quality ethnicity data,” it says.

The plan cites a lack of health sector knowledge of the importance of ethnicity data and the contents of the protocols, but says in some cases IT systems are preventing adherence.

It recommends Te Aka Whai Ora make ethnicity data quality a high priority, monitor sector accountability and the quality of ethnicity data in relation to Māori health and health equity.

“There is an urgent need for leadership and a coordinated and ongoing response across the health sector to achieve high quality ethnicity data,” it says.

Te Aka Whai Ora says it is working with Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora and the Ministry of Health in relation to the recommendations in the report.

To comment on or discuss this news story, go to the eHealthNews category on the HiNZ eHealth Forum

Read more Analytics news

Return to eHealthNews.nz home page