The accuracy of ethnicity data in primary care.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the accuracy of ethnicity data held in Primary Health Organisation (PHO) registers within the Waitemata district of Auckland, New Zealand.


METHODS
Ethnicity data of school-aged children on the National Immunisation Register (NIR) were compared to ethnicity data for those children on the PHO register. NIR data were collected from parents via a protocol-based informed consent process in the Meningococcal B Immunisation Campaign.


RESULTS
For children classified as Maori on the NIR, 62.9% were recorded as Maori on the PHO register, 23.3% were misclassified as European, and a further 9.6% were misclassified as Unknown. For children classified as Pacific on the NIR, 77.2% were recorded as Pacific on the PHO register, 9.4% were misclassified as European, and 6.2% were misclassified as Unknown. For children classified as Asian on the NIR, 81.4% were recorded as Asian on the PHO register, 9.9% were misclassified as Unknown, and 6.0% misclassified as European. For children classified as European on the NIR, 83.2% were recorded as European on the PHO register and 14.4% were misclassified as Unknown.


CONCLUSIONS
This study reveals that ongoing efforts to improve the accuracy of ethnicity data held in PHO registers within the Waitemata district are required. The study reinforces the need for a standardised, systematic and appropriate sector-wide approach to ethnicity data collection.
Bramley
Dale
D
Clinical Support Services, Waitemata DHB, Takapuna, Auckland. Dale.Bramley@Waitematadhb.govt.nz
Latimer
Sandy
S
D000293:Adolescent; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000517:prevention & control; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012042:Registries / Q000592:standards*; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines