School of Public Health and Interdisciplinary Studies

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https://hdl.handle.net/10292/10764
The School of Public Health and Interdisciplinary Studies research institutes and centres play an important role in specialist teaching and research conducted by academic staff and postgraduate students. This places AUT students at the forefront of much of the ground-breaking research undertaken in New Zealand in the field of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Psychology, Psychotherapy and Counselling, and Public Health.

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Browsing School of Public Health and Interdisciplinary Studies by Subject "1115 Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences"

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    Childhood Vaccination Uptake Among Children Born in Aotearoa New Zealand Based on Parental Nationality
    (Taylor and Francis, 2023-08-11) Charania, Nadia; Kirkpatrick, Linda; Paynter, Janine; Turner, Nikki
    Migrants and refugees generally experience immunization inequities compared to their host populations. Childhood vaccination coverage rates are influenced by a complex set of interrelated factors, including child and parental nativity. Coverage rates for MMR, pertussis, and HPV vaccines were compared among children born in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) of overseas-born parents or NZ-born parents. A nationwide retrospective cohort study was conducted using linked, de-identified data. Logistic regression models examined the most influential factors contributing to differences in timely vaccine uptake. Of the total study population who had received all scheduled vaccines (N = 760,269), 32.9% were children of migrant parents. Children of migrant parents had higher rates of complete and timely uptake for MMR, pertussis, and HPV vaccinations compared to non-migrant children. NZ-born children of migrant parents were significantly more likely to receive MMR and pertussis-containing vaccines on-time compared to those of non-migrants. All included factors, except for the child’s gender and parents’ English ability, significantly influenced vaccine uptake. Among NZ-born children of migrant parents, additional logistic modeling found significant differences based on parental duration of residence, visa group, and region of nationality. Findings point to the importance of differentiating between parent versus child nativity when examining immunization coverage. While vaccination rates were higher for NZ-born children of migrant parents, compared to non-migrant parents, timely coverage rates across both groups were below national targets. Continued efforts are needed to improve timely immunization service delivery to address suboptimal and inequitable coverage.
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    Community Pharmacists’ Roles in Providing Contraceptive Services: Views and Experiences of Adolescents in Urban Khon Kaen, Northeast Thailand
    (Oxford University Press, 2023-04-03) Andajani, Sari; Chanthasukh, Sansanee; Fairbairn-Dunlop, Peggy; Smith, John F
    OBJECTIVES: Adolescent pregnancy is a national public health priority in Thailand. While contraceptive methods are available to prevent adolescent pregnancy, Thai adolescent contraceptive usage is low. Community pharmacists are likely the first health professionals to contact adolescents engaged in unprotected sex and needing emergency contraception. However, there is limited research on Thai pharmacists' roles in promoting sexual and reproductive health. This study examines Thai adolescents' perspectives on community pharmacists' roles in promoting contraceptives and preventing unwanted pregnancies. METHOD: This qualitative study recruited 38 adolescents aged 15-19 from one vocational school and one secondary school in Khon Kaen, Thailand. Data were collected from focus group discussions and in-depth interviews and analysed using thematic analysis. KEY FINDINGS: Participants felt community pharmacists had potentially critical roles in promoting adolescent contraceptive use. Community pharmacists had relevant knowledge of effective contraceptive methods, the risks and benefits of each method, and the quality of different condoms available. Community pharmacists, at times, also provided emotional support to distressed adolescents who came to their store. However, participants reported pharmacists' age, gender, and non-empathetic and judgemental attitudes could be barriers to adolescents' ease of access to contraceptive services. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the potentially crucial role community pharmacists could play in providing contraceptive information for adolescents. It suggests the need for changes in government policies and education and training of community pharmacists to enhance their soft skills - empathetic and non-judgemental attitudes - and their roles in delivering youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services.
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    Exploring the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Perceptions of National Scheduled Childhood Vaccines Among Māori and Pacific Caregivers, Whānau, and Healthcare Professionals in Aotearoa New Zealand
    (Taylor and Francis, 2024-01-11) Charania, Nadia; Tonumaipe’a, Daysha; Barbarich-Unasa, Te Wai; Iusitini, Leon; Davis, Georgina; Pacheco, Gail; Wilson, Denise
    In Aotearoa New Zealand, there has been a marked decrease in the uptake of routine childhood vaccinations since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among Māori and Pacific children. This Māori and Pacific-centered research used an interpretive description methodology. We undertook culturally informed interviews and discussions with Māori and Pacific caregivers (n = 24) and healthcare professionals (n = 13) to understand their perceptions of routine childhood vaccines. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis and privileged respective Māori and Pacific worldviews. Four themes were constructed. “We go with the norm” reflected how social norms, health personnel and institutions promoted (and sometimes coerced) participants’ acceptance of routine vaccines before the pandemic. “Everything became difficult” explains how the pandemic added challenges to the daily struggles of whānau (extended family networks) and healthcare professionals. Participants noted how information sources influenced disease and vaccine perceptions and health behaviors. “It needed to have an ethnic-specific approach” highlighted the inappropriateness of Western-centric strategies that dominated during the initial pandemic response that did not meet the needs of Māori and Pacific communities. Participants advocated for whānau-centric vaccination efforts. “People are now finding their voice” expressed renewed agency among whānau about vaccination following the immense pressure to receive COVID-19 vaccines. The pandemic created an opportune time to support informed parental vaccine decision-making in a manner that enhances the mana (authority, control) of whānau. Māori and Pacific-led vaccination strategies should be embedded in immunization service delivery to improve uptake and immunization experiences for whānau.
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