Inequities in exposure to occupational risk factors between Māori and non-Māori workers in Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract

This is one of the first studies internationally to compare occupational risk factors between indigenous and non-indigenous people. These findings suggest that the contribution of the occupational environment to health inequities between Māori and non-Māori has been underestimated and that work tasks may be unequally distributed according to ethnicity.

Are There Ethnic Disparities in Exposure to Workplace Hazards Among New Zealand Migrants to Australia?

“…To our knowledge, no other studies have examined the prevalence of exposure to occupational carcinogens among New Zealand-born workers in Australia. However, studies conducted in New Zealand have found that Māori workers are more likely than non-Māori workers to be exposed to dusts and smoke at work, 8,9 in line with our findings.…”

“…We did not find any difference between Māori/Pasifika and New Zealand Caucasians working in Australia in terms of job vulnerability, job strain, and job insecurity. In New Zealand, past research has found Māori women to be more likely to experience high work stress than non-Māori women, 8,9 although another study found no differences between workers of Māori and European ethnicity in terms of psychological work strain. 28 Other research in New Zealand has found Māori workers to report lower job security than those of European ethnicity.…”

“…7 Māori workers are also more likely to be employed in jobs involving lifting, loud noise, awkward positions, repetitive tasks, and tight deadlines. 8,9 Male Māori workers are more likely to be exposed to dusts than non-Māori workers in the same job, while female Māori workers are more likely to report work stress than non-Māori workers in the same job. 9 In addition, 5.6% of Māori workers report experiencing work-related racial discrimination, compared with 2.1% of New Zealanders of European ethnicity.…”

“…9 In addition, 5.6% of Māori workers report experiencing work-related racial discrimination, compared with 2.1% of New Zealanders of European ethnicity. 10 These differences may contribute to health disparities between Māori/Pasifika and New Zealand Caucasian workers, 8,9 with Māori/Pasifika populations known to have poorer health outcomes in general, including lower life expectancy and higher rates of many chronic and infectious diseases. 10 Past research has found experiences of racial discrimination contribute to health inequalities between those of Māori and European ethnicity, with the association between discrimination and poor health stronger for Māoris.…”

The role of social accountable medical education in addressing health inequity in Aotearoa New Zealand

“…Māori health inequities are well documented (Blakely et al 2005;Robson and Harris 2007;Signal et al 2007;Hill et al 2013;Anderson et al 2016;Metcalfe et al 2018;Reid, Cormack, et al 2018). The ongoing impacts of colonisation, racism, migration and marginalisation in maintaining these inequities are also well documented (Reid and Robson 2000;Blakely et al 2011;Bécares et al 2013;Came 2014;Reid et al 2014;Dew et al 2015;Harris et al 2015;Signal et al 2015;Lawrenson et al 2016;Denison et al 2018;Huria et al 2018;Rahiri et al 2018;.…”