Associations between ethnicity and child health factors in New Zealand.
OBJECTIVE
To identify associations between material and behavioral factors in relation to health among Mäori, Pacific, and New Zealand European or other (NZEO) children in New Zealand.


METHODS
Cross-sectional using a two-stage random clustered sampling procedure.


METHODS
3,275 children: 37.4% Mäori, 32.3% Pacific, and 30.3% NZEO.


METHODS
Prevalence of demographic, socioeconomic, food security, physical/lifestyle, dietary, and dental factors by ethnic group.


RESULTS
Proportionally more Mäori and Pacific children, respectively, lived in large households, and approximately one quarter of each group had an annual household income < dollar 20,000. Approximately one fifth of Mäori and Pacific households respectively relied on food banks when they did not have enough money for food, and more Pacific household occupants felt stressed when food could not be provided for social occasions. A higher proportion of Pacific children were obese. Approximately 40% of Mäori and NZEO children did not play physically active games, and almost four fifths of Mäori children had watched television every night the previous week. A higher proportion of Pacific children ate breakfast on the way to school or purchased their school lunch. More than half the Mäori and Pacific children had consumed a chocolate bar or soda > or = 4 times the previous month, and a higher proportion of Pacific children added sugar to hot beverages. Proportionally more Mäori children had received a restoration or experienced dental pain at night, and a higher proportion of Pacific children had received an extraction due to dental caries.


CONCLUSIONS
Marked differences were found in material and behavioral outcomes in relation to child health when ethnicity was considered.
Jamieson
Lisa M
LM
Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health, The University of Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia. lisa.jamieson@adelaide.edu.au
Koopu
Pauline I
PI
D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000208:ethnology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D009520:New Zealand; D012923:Social Class