Health Care Procedure and Determinants of Health

Running head: HEALTH CARE PROCEDURE AND DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH
HEALTH CARE PROCEDURE AND DETERMINANTS OF
HEALTH
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1HEALTH CARE PROCEDURE AND DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH
Introduction
New Zealand population is comprising of several ethnic groups, and among them, the
European population is highest in amount (74 per cent). Among the minority groups, the Māori
people are considered as the largest group of people as they are consuming 14.9 per cent of the
total population of the country(Stats NZ, 2019). Being the largest ethnic community of the
country, Māori people have experienced racial and ethnic discrimination based on their identity
and skin colour for decades. This factor is not different in case of the health care system as Māori
people always face discriminative attitude from the predominantly white and European health
care professionals. Thus the ethnic discrimination of the group here found to be the effective
social determinant of health. Moreover, lack of knowledge, lack of health access, addictive
habits and socio-economic structure has been identified as the social determinants of health for
the Māori people (MacIntosh, Desai & Lewis, 2013). It has been found that chronic disease rate
is high, and life expectancy is lower than the European people in the Māori community. In the
following section, the social determinants of health and also the strategies of New Zealand
government would be discussed along with the health care access of the Māori people in terms of
the GP and Dental care specialist.
Discussion
LIFE EXPECTANCY RATE
It has been highlighted in the survey report conducted by the New Zealand government
among the Māori population that is the health condition of the community is not in good
condition. It has been seen that the life expectancy rate of Māori males is 73 years and females
are 77.1 years. Whereas, among non- Māori people 80.3 for males and 83.9 years for females

2HEALTH CARE PROCEDURE AND DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH
(Ministry of Health NZ, 2018). Hence, based on this data, it can be stated that the health
condition and access to health care for these people are not adequate with comparison to the non-
Māori people. The socio-economic structure also affects health access. Thus it can be stated that
the factor of the health condition of Māori community should be checked and even the
development of different strategies for the development of the health access of Māori people
should be considered as well. However, the factor of the socio-economic condition of the people
from this community should also be assessed along with other social determinants of health.
Process of health care for Māori people should be considerate enough for reducing
discriminative practices in the health care system. Hence, the development of the equity of care
for the Aotera population and the Māori subgroup as well (Pack, Tuffin& Lyons, 2015). On this
context, it can state that the requirement of improving the health care policy and strategies should
be considered primarily with consideration of the social determinants of health.
OBESITY AND MORTALITY
Among the Māori people, almost 100,000 children in the age range of 2 to 14 have been
seen to have obesity up to 12.3 per cent. It has been increased from 2006/ 2007 as the rate was
8.4 per cent back then (Ministry of Health NZ, 2017). It has also been seen that 32 per cent of
adults of this community is obese as well, which also increased from 29 per cent of 2011/ 2012
(Ministry of Health NZ, 2017). The children and adults are 2.5 times more obese who are living
in socio-economically unprivileged areas than the people of socio-economically advantageous
areas(Ministry of Health NZ, 2017). Based on this data, it can be stated that the socio-economic
condition and the ethnic belief of the Māori people lead to the obese and more vulnerable health
conditions. Hence, it can be noted that the requirement of health literacy development and
providing support by implementing free health care. It would be helpful in the event of better

3HEALTH CARE PROCEDURE AND DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH
health condition among these people. Reduction of obesity would be beneficial in the reduction
of other co-morbidities that leads to a high mortality rate of Māori people. The mortality rate is
746.5 male and 567.8 female among 100,100 people (Ministry of Health NZ, 2018). Hence, it
can be stated that obesity and also other diseases that can cause adverse situations should be
decreased among the people of Māori people with priority. That should be reduced by the
implementation of the health policies that refer to the health inequity reduction and providing
equal care to the Māori people.
SMOKING AND DRINKING
It can also be seen among the Māori community that the smoking rate is high, and also
the alcohol drinking rate is high. 35 per cent of the Māori adults is daily smokers which are
lowered from 42 per cent in the year 2006/ 2007(Ministry of Health NZ, 2017). The smoking
rates are decreased among young adults. However, the rate is not significantly changed among
adults over the age of 35(Ministry of Health NZ, 2017). Based on the data, it can be seen that
Māori people living in the socio-economically unprivileged area are three times more affected by
the habit of smoking. Drinking habit of people from Māori community is also high as male
drinkers are 27 per cent, and female drinkers are 12 per cent as well(Ministry of Health NZ,
2017). However, the rate of alcohol consumption is higher among the young adults that 18 to 24
year age range and the rate is 33 per cent(Ministry of Health NZ, 2017). It has also been seen
that the rate of alcohol consumption is 1.7 times higher among the people from the unprivileged
community although the socio-economic factor is very much affected of these
communities(Ministry of Health NZ, 2017). Thus it can be stated that the requirement of the