Maori get poorer clinical health care in public hospitals than non-Maori, a University of Otago study suggests.
Juliet Rumball-Smith, a researcher from the Department of Public Health and General Practice at the university's Christchurch campus, reviewed 11 studies of health care in New Zealand.
In particular, she found hospital obstetric treatment was poorer for Maori. Researchers also looked at cases of cardiac intervention, end stage renal disease, and care of patients with mental illness.
"There's robust evidence provided by some, but not all, of the reviewed investigations for poorer quality of care for Maori. The evidence for disparities in obstetric care is particularly consistent and robust," Dr Rumball-Smith said.
In overseas studies of disparities in health care quality, researchers found minorities often received worse care -- particularly in the United States.
"It's possible that the care received by Maori within our health system may be contributing to their poorer health status, and some of the investigations reviewed in this study provide evidence of this," she said.
The study is published in today's issue of the New Zealand Medical Journal.
