This annual report - Taranaki District Health Board

Midland Region TrendsHospital Admissions for Medical Conditions: In the Midland Region during 2000–2011,while trends varied from DHB to DHB, hospital admissions for medical conditions with asocial gradient were consistently higher than the New Zealand rate in the Bay of Plenty,Lakes DHB and Tairawhiti and generally lower than the New Zealand rate in the Waikatoand Taranaki (Figure 107).Hospital Admissions for Injuries: In all of the DHBs in the Midland Region during 2000–2011, hospital admissions for injuries with a social gradient exhibited a general downwardtrend, with rates in the Bay of Plenty and Tairawhiti being generally higher the NewZealand rate and rates in the Waikato and Taranaki (from 2006 onwards) being generallylower (Figure 107).Midland Region Distribution by EthnicityHospital Admissions for Medical Conditions: In the Waikato during 2000–2011, hospitaladmissions for medical conditions with a social gradient were generally higher for Pacificand Māori children than for European/Other children, while in the Bay of Plenty, LakesDHB, Tairawhiti and Taranaki admissions were higher for Māori than for European/Otherchildren (Figure 108).Hospital Admissions for Injuries: In the Bay of Plenty and Lakes DHB during 2000–2011,hospital admissions for injuries with a social gradient were generally higher for Māori thanfor European children, although in the Waikato, Tairawhiti and Taranaki ethnic differenceswere less consistent (Figure 108).Local Policy Documents and Evidence-Based ReviewsRelevant to the Prevention of Socioeconomically SensitiveHospital Admissions and Mortality in ChildrenGiven the complex causal pathways leading to socioeconomic gradients in hospitaladmissions and mortality during childhood, it is likely that an integrated policy frameworkcovering a range of areas (e.g. housing, income support, reductions in exposure tosecond-hand cigarette smoke, immunisation) will be required, if reductions in admissionsand mortality are to be achieved. Table 3 on Page 62 thus provides a brief overview oflocal policy documents and evidence-based reviews which consider policies to address thesocial determinants of health, while Table 12 on Page 103 reviews documents whichconsider the relationship between housing and health. In addition Table 39 on Page 197reviews publications focused on the prevention of second-hand cigarette exposure inchildren, while Table 34 on Page 197 considers publications relevant to the cessation ofsmoking in pregnancy. Finally Table 23 on Page 166 reviews publications relevant toimmunisation and interventions aimed at increasing immunisation coverage.Hospital Admissions and Mortality with a Social Gradient - 257