Register      Login
Journal of Primary Health Care Journal of Primary Health Care Society
Journal of The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > HC > HC23123
RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)
Online Early

Worldviews of hearing health for Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand: a mixed methods study

Elizabeth A.-L. Holt https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7142-065X 1 2 * , Latasi Koro 3 , Fiona Langridge https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7594-7547 4 , Vili Nosa https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7144-2805 5
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

1 Section of Audiology, School of Population Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New Zealand.

2 Eisdell Moore Centre for Hearing and Balance Research, Section of Audiology, School of Population Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New Zealand.

3 The Hearing House, Greenlane, Auckland 1546, New Zealand.

4 Department of Paediatrics, Child and Youth Health, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New Zealand.

5 Pacific Health Section, School of Population Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New Zealand.

* Correspondence to: e.holt@auckland.ac.nz

Handling Editor: Tim Stokes

Journal of Primary Health Care https://doi.org/10.1071/HC23123
Submitted: 5 October 2023  Accepted: 4 December 2023  Published: 25 January 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)

Abstract

Introduction

Pacific peoples experience inequity in accessing hearing health care and are disproportionately exposed to the underlying determinants impacting ear and hearing health in Aotearoa New Zealand. Understanding community members’ worldviews, including perspectives, beliefs and values, is essential in developing appropriate and responsive hearing healthcare services to meet the needs of Pacific peoples.

Aim

The purpose of this paper is to understand the worldviews, knowledge and beliefs held by Pacific peoples regarding hearing health in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Methods

A mixed-methods approach was used. Twelve semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with Pacific community members. Twenty-five participants completed an online questionnaire. A simultaneous, integrated mixed-methods approach was used to analyse the qualitative and quantitative data.

Results

Five main themes were established, which were: The Meaning of Hearing; Causes of hearing loss; Consequences of hearing loss and Disability; and Improving health care for ear disease and hearing loss.

Discussion

Pacific peoples value hearing health to communicate and connect with their families and communities. Participants highlighted the importance of hearing health across the life course. Although the study findings revealed there is potentially less stigma and shame around hearing loss in New Zealand, denial and fatalistic attitudes towards hearing loss may delay some people from seeking healthcare services. Participants expressed key ways in which the health system can be more responsive to the hearing health needs of Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Keywords: delivery of healthcare, disability, ear health, hearing loss, knowledge, New Zealand, pacific peoples, worldviews.

References

1  Ryan D. Health care experiences of Pacific families who have children with rheumatic fever. Wellington, NZ: Pacific Perspectives Ltd; 2015.

2  Anderson A, Peat B, Ryland J, et al. Mismatches between health service delivery and community expectations in the provision of secondary prophylaxis for rheumatic fever in New Zealand. Aust N Z J Public Health 2019; 43(3): 294-9.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

3  Ryan D, Grey C, Mischewski B. Tofa Saili : a review of evidence about health equity for Pacific peoples in New Zealand. Wellington, NZ: Pacific Perspectives Ltd; 2019. Available from https://www.pacificperspectives.co.nz/tofa-saili

4  Health Quality & Safety Commission. Bula Sautu: a window on quality 2021: Pacific health in the year of COVID-19. Wellington, NZ: Health Quality & Safety Commission; 2021.

5  World Health Organization. World report on hearing. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2021. Available at https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/world-report-on-hearing

6  Paterson JE, Carter S, Wallace J, et al. Pacific Islands families study: the prevalence of chronic middle ear disease in 2-year-old Pacific children living in New Zealand. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2006; 70(10): 1771-8.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

7  Purdy SC, Taylor S, Schluter PJ, et al. Hearing and ear status of Pacific children aged 11 years living in New Zealand: the Pacific Islands families hearing study. Int J Audiol 2019; 58(2): 77-86.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

8  Dickinson LJ, Nimmo M, Morton RP, et al. Asymptomatic’ South Auckland preschool children have significant hearing loss and middle ear disease. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2018; 114(August): 106-10.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

9  Simpson J, Duncanson M, Oben G, et al. The health status of Pacific children and young people in New Zealand. Dunedin: New Zealand Child and Youth Epidemiology Service, University of Otago; 2017.

10  Harris R, Cormack D, Tobias M, et al. The pervasive effects of racism: Experiences of racial discrimination in New Zealand over time and associations with multiple health domains. Soc Sci Med 2012; 74(3): 408-15.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

11  Kaspar A, Newton O, Kei J, et al. Parental knowledge and attitudes to childhood hearing loss and hearing services in the Solomon Islands. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2017; 103(July): 87-92.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

12  Holt EA-L, Nosa V, McCool J, et al. Ear and hearing health in Niue: A qualitative study on the worldviews, knowledge, beliefs and use of health care. J Prim Health Care 2022; 14: 237-43.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

13  Kaspar A, Figao F, Driscoll C, et al. Knowledge and attitudes of female caregivers in Samoa to childhood hearing loss and hearing services. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2023; 169: 111557.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

14  Reddy R, Welch D, Lima I, et al. Identifying hearing care access barriers among older Pacific Island people in New Zealand: a qualitative study. BMJ Open 2019; 9(8): e029007.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

15  University of Otago. Pacific research protocols. Dunedin, NZ: University of Otago; 2011. Available at https://www.otago.ac.nz/research/otago085503.pdf

16  Vaioleti TM. Talanoa research methodology: a developing position on Pacific research. Waikato J Educ 2006; 12: 21-34 Available at http://www.wje.org.nz/index.php/WJE/article/view/296/310.
| Google Scholar |

17  Suaalii‐Sauni T, Fulu‐Aiolupotea SM. Decolonising Pacific research, building Pacific research communities and developing Pacific research tools: the case of the talanoa and the faafaletui in Samoa. Asia Pac Viewp 2014; 55(3): 331-44.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

18  Palinkas LA, Horwitz SM, Green CA, et al. Purposeful sampling for qualitative data collection and analysis in mixed method implementation research. Adm Policy Ment Health 2015; 42: 533-44.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

19  Creswell J, Clark VL. Designing and conducting mixed methods research, 2nd edn. Thousand Oaks, California: SAGE Publications; 2011.

20  Stats New Zealand Tatauranga Aotearoa. Pacific peoples ethnic group. Census. 2018. Available at https://www.stats.govt.nz/tools/2018-census-ethnic-group-summaries/pacific-peoples

21  Braun V, Clarke V, Terry G. Thematic analysis. In: Rohleder P, Lyons AC, editors. Qualitative research in clinical and health psychology, 1st edn. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan; 2015. pp. 95–113.

22  Foliaki S. Pacific mental health services and workforce. Moving on the Blueprint. Wellington, NZ: Mental Health Commission; 2001. Available at https://thehub.swa.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Pacific-Mental-Health-Services-and-Workforce.pdf [cited 28 April 2023].

23  Flick U. Triangulation in Qualitative Research. In: Flick U, Kardorff E von, Steinke I, editors. A Companion to Qualitative Research. 1st ed. London, UK: Sage Publications; 2004. pp. 178–83.

24  Tong A, Sainsbury P, Craig J. Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ): A 32-item checklist for interviews and focus groups. Int J Qual Health Care 2007; 19(6): 349-57.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

25  Finnegan R, Orbell M. South Pacific oral traditions. Indianapolis: Indiana University Press; 1995.

26  Koro L, Kaspar A. Deafness and the Tokelauan health model. J Glob Health 2023; 13: 03001.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

27  Holt E, McCool J, Nosa V, et al. Development of an otitis media strategy in the pacific: Key informant perspectives. N Z Med J 2018; 131(1475): 69-76.
| Google Scholar | PubMed |

28  Sundborn G, Paterson J, Jhagroo U, et al. Cohort profile: A decade on and strong - The Pacific Islands families study. Pac Health Dialog 2011; 17(2): 9-21.
| Google Scholar | PubMed |

29  Schluter PJ, Kanagaratnam S, Taylor S, et al. Acculturation and its impact on the oral health status of Pacific children in New Zealand: findings from the Pacific Islands Families study. J Public Health Dent 2017; 77(3): 225-33.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

30  Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. Pacific Framework for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: a regional framework to support national government actions on inclusive development for the rights of persons with disabilities 2016-2025. Suva: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat; 2016. Available at https://www.forumsec.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/PFRPD.pdf [cited 27 July 2023].

31  Macpherson C, Macpherson L. Samoan medical belief and practice. Auckland: Auckland University Press; 1990. pp. 1–272.

32  Cu A, Meister S, Lefebvre B, et al. Assessing healthcare access using the Levesque’s conceptual framework – a scoping review. Int J Equity Health 2021; 20: 116.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

33  Kelm Z, Womer J, Walter JK, et al. Interventions to cultivate physician empathy: a systematic review. BMC Med Educ 2014; 14: 219.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

34  Helu Thaman K. Cultural democracy for whom? A view from the Pacific Islands. Keynote address: Conference of the International Association for Intercultural Education. 1994. pp. 3–19. Available at www.repository.usp.ac.fj/6108/1/Cultural_democracy_for_whom_a_view_from_the_Pacific_Islands.pdf