Cure Kids’ 2023 State of Child Health Report reveals the worsening state and continued inequity of child health in New Zealand, with hospital admissions for tamariki and rangatahi remaining unacceptably high across five major classes of health issues.

The report, developed in collaboration with the NZ Child and Youth Epidemiology Service at the University of Otago, details the alarming reality that Māori children, Pasifika children, and children living in areas with the greatest socioeconomic deprivation are disproportionately affected by key health concerns. These include respiratory conditions, rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease, skin infections, dental disease, and mental health.

Factors such as child poverty, limited access to healthcare, insufficient funding for childhood disease research and housing conditions all contribute to the disparity in health outcomes in New Zealand.

This is particularly evident in cases of acute rheumatic fever, where Pasifika children are 115 times more likely, and Māori children 46 times more likely, to be hospitalised with acute rheumatic fever compared to their European counterparts.

Frances Soutter, CEO of Cure Kids, emphasises the urgency of addressing these health challenges: “The data is clear – too many of our children are experiencing preventable illnesses, with the burden falling disproportionately on Māori, Pasifika, and those living in areas of high deprivation.

“We must take national action to reduce child poverty and deliver equitable access to healthcare, nutrition, and housing. By targeting these risk factors, we can reverse these trends and generate long-term benefits for New Zealand’s population that far exceed the initial costs.”

Some key findings from the Cure Kids 2023 State of Child Health report include:

Respiratory conditions:

• Respiratory conditions are the leading cause of acute hospitalisations for children, with infants under one year being particularly vulnerable.

• Hospitalisation rates for respiratory conditions in children under one year have increased by 44% over the past two decades.

• Pasifika children are 2.5 times more likely, and tamariki Māori 1.8 times more likely, to be hospitalised for respiratory conditions compared to their peers.

• The report highlights the importance of continued free access to the influenza vaccine and expanding access to vaccines, including new options for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), to prevent severe respiratory conditions. It also calls for improving housing conditions and reducing tobacco exposure, as ensuring warm, dry homes and minimising second-hand smoke can significantly lower respiratory-related hospital admissions and asthma rates among young children.

Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease:

• Pasifika children are 115 times more likely, and Māori children 46 times more likely, to be hospitalised with acute rheumatic fever compared to their European counterparts.

• There is a need for expanded sore throat swabbing programs and early detection through rheumatic heart disease screening. Continued investment in research and development of new treatments and vaccines is also essential to reduce the incidence and impact of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease.

Mental health concerns:

• Hospitalisations for mental health concerns or for intentional self-harm have increased exponentially since 2000. In addition, 21% of young people aged 15–24 reported psychological distress in 2022/23, compared to 5% in 2011/12 – a more than 300% increase over 12 years. This calls for greater investment in ​child and ​youth mental health services, focusing on culturally appropriate care and early intervention.

Skin infections:

• The rate of hospitalisations for Pasifika children with serious skin infections is three times that of children of European or other ethnic groups, and for tamariki Māori, it is almost twice the rate. Better housing and access to community-based treatments is required to reduce hospitalisations.

Dental disease:

• Nearly half of five-year-olds were not seen by the Community Oral Health Service in 2022, leading to high rates of tooth decay. Tamariki Māori and Pasifika children are disproportionately affected, especially in socioeconomically deprived areas. Investing in expanding fluoridation and increasing support for dental services is crucial.

Cure Kids is a leading organisation dedicated to funding research that addresses major health issues impacting our tamariki. Through collaboration with expert advisors and researchers, Cure Kids aims to improve child health outcomes and equity across New Zealand.

Read the full State of Child Health in Aotearoa, New Zealand 2023 report here.