Improve protection against rheumatic fever for young Māori and Pasifika

Current treatment relies on monthly injections with antibiotics to prevent Strep A bacteria from causing recurring infections of the skin or throat in young people who have already experienced acute rheumatic fever. However, these prevention strategies have not successfully reduced the rates of disease over time.

Dr Anneka Anderson and Dr Rachel Brown have identified issues with the way care is delivered, and particularly for young Māori and Pasifika people aged 15-24 years. This is a pilot study of a different ways of delivering prevention and care that are co-designed with rangatahi and their whanau to be culturally responsive and age-appropriate. This patient-centred model is designed to help young people to continue with monthly intramuscular penicillin injections for a minimum of 10 years, to protect them from damage to their heart valves (RHD).