Trends in deprivation in hospitalisations of Indigenous children and young people in Aotearoa New Zealand

Aim To examine the 20-year trends in socio-economic inequities in hospitalisations of Maori and non-Maori non-Pacific (NMNP) under-25-year olds in Aotearoa New Zealand. Methods Hospital discharge data for Maori and NMNP taitamariki aged under-25 years were extracted from the National Minimum Dataset for the period 2000-2019. Acute or arranged admissions to hospital were included where the primary diagnosis was for a medical condition. Age- and gender-standardised rates (per 1000, 0-24-year old) were calculated for both ethnic groups by area deprivation using the 2013 NZ census estimated resident population. For each ethnic group, inequity indices of socio-economic deprivation (Slope Index of Inequality and Relative Index of Inequality) were computed, using regression modelling, to quantify inequity of medical condition-related hospitalisations and its changes over time. Results Hospitalisation rates for medical conditions were consistently higher for Maori than for NMNP under-25-year olds from 2000 to 2019. Maori taitamariki residing in the most deprived (quintile 5) areas were more likely than NMNP to be hospitalised for a medical condition at each time point. Deprivation inequities existed for both ethnic groups and were greater for Maori. Despite reducing deprivation inequities over time, ethnic differences persist on both absolute and relative scales. Conclusion Deprivation inequities in hospitalisation for medical conditions persist for Maori taitamariki compared with NMNP and highlights society's tolerance of enduring inequity in health outcomes.