Understanding Hawaiian Identity and Well-being to Improve Mental Health Outcomes for Hawaiian Young Adults.

The mental health crisis among Native Hawaiian young adults is exacerbated by colonization-related risk factors, yet cultural identity stands as a key protective element. This study explored the link between cultural identity and stress, employing cultural reclamation theory, and surveyed 37 Native Hawaiians aged 18-24 through the Native Hawaiian Young Adult Well-being Survey. Engagement with culture, the significance of Hawaiian identity, and stress were assessed, revealing significant correlations between cultural and demographic factors and stress levels. Participants displayed high cultural engagement and valued their Hawaiian identity, with gender and education levels playing a notable role in stress. These findings highlight the importance of including Native Hawaiian perspectives in mental health research and may guide the development of targeted interventions.

Modeling Poverty and Health for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander and Asian Ethnic Populations.

This study examined differences in poverty and health among Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NHPI) and 6 disaggregated Asian ethnic subgroups and an aggregated Other Asian category. Participants were followed longitudinally for 2 years using data from 2009 to 2019 from the Current Population Survey, a monthly survey conducted by the Census Bureau. Having 2 years of data enabled the study to assess both prevalence of poverty and fair/poor health in only 1 of the 2 years and in both years. For NHPI, 13.5% were in poverty 1of the 2 years and 7.1% in both years. Asian ethnicities showed high variability ranging from a low of 6.4% for 1 year and 1.9% for 2 years among Asian Indians to 16.0% for 1 year and 6.3% for 2 years among Vietnamese. Fair/poor health also showed ethnic variability, made most apparent after age-sex adjustment in regression models. For poverty, after adjustment, Asian Indians, Filipinos and Japanese had significantly lower odds of being in poverty at least 1 year than NHPI. For having fair/poor health, Asian Indians and Japanese experienced lower odds than NHPI for both 1 and 2 years and Filipinos for 1 year, after age/sex adjustment. The results emphasize the diversity of Asian and Pacific Islander populations, the variability of poverty over time, and the importance of using disaggregated data to understand ethnic differences in poverty and health. These findings can be used to inform future modeling of social determinants on poverty and health among NHPI and Asian subgroups.

Age and Sex Distributions of 31 Common Racial Groups in Hawai'i: A Shiny Web Application.

Hawai'i is the most ethnically diverse state with the highest proportion of multiracial individuals in the United States. The Stepwise Proportional Weighting Algorithm (SPWA) was developed to bridge the categorization of multiracial Census data into single-race population estimates for common races in Hawai'i. However, these estimates have not been publicly available. A Shiny web application, the Hawai'i Single-Race Categorization Tool, was developed as a user friendly research tool to obtain the age and sex distributions of single-race estimates for common racial groups in Hawai'i. The Categorization Tool implements the SPWA and presents the results in tabular and graphic formats, stratified by sex and age. It also allows the categorization of partial Native Hawaiians as Native Hawaiians in the population estimation. Using this tool, the current paper reports population estimates and distributions for 31 common racial groups using Hawai'i Census 2010 data. Among the major Census races, Asian had the largest population (631 881; 46.5%) in Hawai'i, followed by White (431 635; 31.7%) and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (227 588; 16.7%). Among Census detailed races within Asian, Filipino had the largest population estimate (244 730; 18.0%), followed by Japanese (227 165; 16.7%) and Chinese (103 600; 7.6%). Native Hawaiian accounted for 12.3% of the Hawai'i population (166 944). After recategorizing part-Native Hawaiians as Native Hawaiians, Native Hawaiian increased by 150.0%, with the greatest increase among the young. This publicly available tool would be valuable for race-related resource allocation, policy development, and health disparities research in Hawai'i.

The Hawai'i NHPI Data Disaggregation Imperative: Preventing Data Genocide Through Statewide Race and Ethnicity Standards.

Federal race and ethnicity data standards are commonly applied within the state of Hawai'i. When a multiracial category is used, Native Hawaiians are disproportionately affected since they are more likely than any other group to identify with an additional race or ethnicity group. These data conventions contribute to a phenomenon known as data genocide - the systematic erasure of Indigenous and marginalized peoples from population data. While data aggregation may be unintentional or due to real or perceived barriers, the obstacles to disaggregating data must be overcome to advance health equity. In this call for greater attention to relevant social determinants of health through disaggregation of race and ethnicity data, the history of data standards is reviewed, the implications of aggregation are discussed, and recommended disaggregation strategies are provided.

Disparities in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Outcomes Among Subgroups of Asians and Pacific Islanders: A SEER Database Study.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is highly prevalent in Asians and Pacific Islanders (API) but this heterogenous group is often aggregated into a single category, despite vast differences in culture, socioeconomic status, education, and access to care among subgroups. There remains a significant knowledge gap in HCC outcomes among different subgroups of API. The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database was accessed, and site/ICD codes were used to identify HCC patients during 2010-2019 who were API ethnicity. Data collected: demographics, socioeconomic status, tumor characteristics, treatment, and survival. Subgroup analyses were performed among different Asian ethnicities in a secondary analysis. 8,249 patients were identified/subdivided into subgroups of Asian ethnicities and Other Pacific Islanders (NHOPI) groups. The median age was 65 years for Asians and 62 years for NHOPI (p < 0.01), and significant differences were found in income (p < 0.01). A higher proportion of NHOPI lived in rural areas compared to Asians (8.1 vs. 1.1%, p < 0.01). There were no statistically significant differences in tumor size, stage, pre-treatment AFP level, or surgical treatments between the two groups. However, Asians had higher overall median survival than NHOPI (20 months v 12 months, p < 0.01). Secondary analyses among different subgroups of Asian ethnicities revealed significant differences in tumor size and staging, surgical resection, transplant rates, and median survival. While API had similar tumor characteristics and treatment, Asians had much higher survival than NHOPI. Socioeconomic differences and access to care may contribute to these differences. This study also found significant survival disparities within API ethnicities.

Important lack of difference in tacrolimus and mycophenolic acid pharmacokinetics between Aboriginal and Caucasian kidney transplant recipients.

AIM: To examine whether differences in tacrolimus and mycophenolic acid (MPA) pharmacokinetics contribute to the poorer kidney transplant outcomes experienced by Aboriginal Australians. METHODS: Concentration-time profiles for tacrolimus and MPA were prospectively collected from 43 kidney transplant recipients: 27 Aboriginal and 16 Caucasian. Apparent clearance (CL/F) and distribution volume (V/F) for each individual were derived from concentration-time profiles combined with population pharmacokinetic priors, with subsequent assessment for between-group difference in pharmacokinetics. In addition, population pharmacokinetic models were developed using the prospective dataset supplemented by previously developed structural models for tacrolimus and MPA. The change in NONMEM objective function was used to assess improvement in goodness of model fit. RESULTS: No differences were found between Aboriginal and Caucasian groups or empirical Bayes estimates, for CL/F or V/F of MPA or tacrolimus. However, a higher prevalence of CYP3A5 expressers (26% compared with 0%) and wider between-subject variability in tacrolimus CL/F (SD = 5.00 compared with 3.25 L/h/70 kg) were observed in the Aboriginal group, though these differences failed to reach statistical significance (p = .07 and p = .08). CONCLUSION: There were no differences in typical tacrolimus or MPA pharmacokinetics between Aboriginal and Caucasian kidney transplant recipients. This means that Bayesian dosing tools developed to optimise tacrolimus and MPA dosing in Caucasian recipients may be applied to Aboriginal recipients. In turn, this may improve drug exposure and thereby transplant outcomes in this group. Aboriginal recipients appeared to have greater between-subject variability in tacrolimus CL/F and a higher prevalence of CYP3A5 expressers, attributes that have been linked with inferior outcomes.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Rates of Invasive Second Breast Cancer Among Women With Ductal Carcinoma In Situ in Hawai'i.

Importance: Women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) may develop a subsequent invasive second breast cancer (SBC). Understanding the association of racial and ethnic factors with the development of invasive SBC may help reduce overtreatment and undertreatment of women from minority groups. Objective: To evaluate risk factors associated with developing invasive ipsilateral SBC (iiSBC) and invasive contralateral SBC (icSBC) among women with an initial diagnosis of DCIS who are from racial and ethnic minority populations. Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective cohort study used deidentified data from the Hawai'i Tumor Registry of 6221 female Hawai'i residents aged 20 years or older who received a diagnosis of DCIS between January 1, 1973, and December 31, 2017. The 5 most populous ethnic groups were compared (Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Native Hawaiian, and White). Data analysis was performed from 2020 to 2021. Exposures: Patient demographic and clinical characteristics and the first course of treatment. Main Outcome and Measures: The a priori study outcome was the development of invasive SBC. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with invasive SBC. Factors that were significant on unadjusted analyses were included in the adjusted models (ie, age, race and ethnicity, diagnosis year, DCIS histologic characteristics, laterality, hormone status, and treatment). Results: The racial and ethnic distribution of patients with DCIS across the state's most populous groups were 2270 Japanese women (37%), 1411 White women (23%), 840 Filipino women (14%), 821 Native Hawaiian women (13%), and 491 Chinese women (8%). Women of other minority race and ethnicity collectively comprised 6% of cases (n = 388). A total of 6221 women (age range, 20 to ≥80 years) were included in the study; 4817 (77%) were 50 years of age or older, 4452 (72%) received a diagnosis between 2000 and 2017, 2581 (42%) had well or moderately differentiated histologic characteristics, 2383 (38%) had noninfiltrating intraductal DCIS, and 2011 (32%) were treated with mastectomy only. Of these 6221 women, 444 (7%) developed invasive SBC; 190 developed iiSBC (median time to SBC diagnosis, 7.8 years [range, 0.5-30 years]) and 254 developed icSBC (median time to SBC diagnosis, 5.9 years [range, 0.5-28.8 years]). On adjusted analysis, women who developed iiSBC were more likely to be younger than 50 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.49; 95% CI, 1.08-2.06), Native Hawaiian (aOR, 3.28; 95% CI, 2.01-5.35), Filipino (aOR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.11-3.42), Japanese (aOR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.01-2.48), and untreated (aOR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.09-4.80). Compared with breast-conserving surgery (BCS) alone, there was a decreased likelihood of iiSBC among women receiving BCS and radiotherapy (aOR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.27-0.75), BCS and systemic treatment with or without radiotherapy (aOR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.23-0.69), mastectomy only (aOR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.13-0.39), and mastectomy and systemic treatment (aOR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.33-0.96). Women who developed an icSBC were more likely to be Native Hawaiian (aOR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.10-2.61) or Filipino (aOR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.10-2.63). Risk of both iiSBC and icSBC decreased in the later years of diagnosis (2000-2017) compared with the earlier years (1973-1999). Conclusions and Relevance: This study suggests that Native Hawaiian and Filipino women who initially received a diagnosis of DCIS were more likely to subsequently develop both iiSBC and icSBC. Japanese women and younger women were more likely to develop iiSBC. Subpopulation disaggregation may help guide clinical treatment and screening decisions for at-risk subpopulations.

Is ethnicity an appropriate measure of health care marginalization? A systematic review and meta-analysis of the outcomes of diabetic foot ulceration in Aboriginal populations.

BACKGROUND: Aboriginal people have higher prevalence rates of diabetes than non-Aboriginal people in the same geographic locations, and diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) complication rates are also presumed to be higher. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare DFU outcomes in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal populations. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, CINAHL and the Cochrane Library from inception to October 2018. Inclusion criteria were all types of studies comparing the outcomes of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal patients with DFU, and studies from Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand. Exclusion criteria were patient age younger than 18 years, and studies in any language other than English. The primary outcome was the major amputation rate. We assessed the risk of bias using the ROBINS-I (Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies - of Interventions) tool. Effect measures were reported as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: Six cohort studies with a total of 244 792 patients (2609 Aboriginal, 242 183 non-Aboriginal) with DFUs were included. The Aboriginal population was found to have a higher rate of major amputation than the non-Aboriginal population (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.04-3.31). Four studies were deemed to have moderate risk of bias, and 2 were deemed to have serious risk of bias. CONCLUSION: Our analysis of the available studies supports the conclusion that DFU outcomes, particularly the major amputation rate, are worse in Aboriginal populations than in non-Aboriginal populations in the same geographic locations. Rurality was not uniformly accounted for in all included studies, which may affect how these outcome differences are interpreted. The effect of rurality may be closely intertwined with ethnicity, resulting in worse outcomes.

Dietary Intake and Anthropometric Measurement at Age 36 Months Among Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Children in Australia: A Secondary Analysis of the Baby Teeth Talk Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Interventions to reduce early childhood caries should be examined for their effects on anthropometry given their design to improve children's diets. Objective: To compare the outcomes of dietary intake, anthropometric measurements, and blood pressure measurements between children at age 36 months in the immediate intervention group vs those in the delayed intervention group. Design, Setting, and Participants: This secondary analysis was a follow-up to the 2-group Baby Teeth Talk randomized clinical trial conducted across the state of South Australia, Australia. Participants were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children and their caregivers who were randomized to the immediate intervention group or delayed intervention group. The intervention was provided from February 1, 2011, to May 31, 2012. The prespecified follow-up when the participating children were aged 36 months was conducted from November 1, 2014, to February 28, 2016, in participant homes or public locations. Data were analyzed from October 5, 2018, to April 29, 2019. Interventions: The immediate intervention group received the intervention during pregnancy and at 6, 12, and 18 months of age. The delayed intervention group received the intervention at 24, 30, and 36 months of age. Both groups received an intervention consisting of free dental care for mothers, fluoride varnish on children's teeth, anticipatory guidance on oral health and dietary advice, and motivational interviewing. Main Outcomes and Measures: Dietary intake was measured with a caregiver-completed, 17-item food frequency questionnaire. Frequency of consumption of discretionary foods and beverages were the main dietary outcomes. Children's weight, height, and mid-upper arm circumference were measured and converted to age- and sex-specific z scores. Body mass index z score was the main anthropometric outcome. Results: A total of 330 children were followed up to age 36 months among the 448 mothers and 454 children who were randomized to the 2 groups. At baseline, the women had a mean (SD) age of 24.9 (5.9) years, and the children had a mean (SD) weight of 3.3 (0.6) kilograms at birth, and 205 were boys (46%); sex was not recorded for 63 children (14%). Diet outcomes were similar between the groups. For example, the mean (SD) intake of discretionary beverages by the immediate intervention group was similar to that by the delayed intervention group (507 [536] mL/d vs 520 [546] mL/d; adjusted mean difference [MD], -16 [95% CI, -133 to 102] mL/d; P = .79). Height was similar between the 2 groups, but the mean (SD) z scores of weight (0.7 [1.0] vs 0.4 [1.0]; adjusted MD, 0.3 [95% CI, 0.1-0.5]; P = .02), arm circumference (1.6 [1.0] vs 1.3 [0.9]; adjusted MD, 0.2 [95% CI, 0.1-0.5]; P = .03), and body mass index (1.1 [1.1] vs 0.9 [0.9]; adjusted MD, 0.2 [95% CI, 0.0-0.4]; P = .04) were higher in the immediate intervention group than the delayed intervention group. Conclusions and Relevance: This study found no differences in dietary intakes between children who received an intervention to reduce dental caries early and those who received it later. At age 36 months, children in the immediate intervention group had greater z scores for weight, arm circumference, and body mass index than their counterparts in the delayed intervention group, suggesting a potential implication of oral health interventions for anthropometric outcomes. Trial Registration: ANZCTR Identifier: ACTRN12611000111976.

Letter on an iceberg.

In the public sphere, issues are like icebergs. This somewhat hackneyed metaphor illustrates that, while one facet of an issue is perceived, what is not seen is the hidden substructure of power and culture that form and reinforce it, buoying the issue to prominence above the surface.

Pregnancy and birth characteristics of Aboriginal twins in two Australian states: a data linkage study.

INTRODUCTION: Perinatal outcomes for singleton pregnancies are poorer, on average, for Aboriginal people than non-Aboriginal people, but little is known about Aboriginal multifetal pregnancies. Yet multifetal pregnancies and births are often more complicated and have poorer outcomes than singleton pregnancies. We describe the pregnancies, births and perinatal outcomes for Aboriginal twins born in Western Australia (WA) and New South Wales (NSW) with comparisons to Aboriginal singletons in both states and to non-Aboriginal births in NSW. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Whole-population birth records and birth and death registrations were linked for all births during 2000-2013 (WA) and 2002-2008 (NSW). Hospital records and the WA Register of Developmental Anomalies - Cerebral Palsy were linked for all WA births and hospital records for a subset of NSW births. Descriptive statistics are reported for maternal and child demographics, maternal health, pregnancy complications, births and perinatal outcomes. RESULTS: Thirty-four thousand one hundred twenty-seven WA Aboriginal, 32,352 NSW Aboriginal and 601,233 NSW non-Aboriginal births were included. Pregnancy complications were more common among mothers of Aboriginal twins than Aboriginal singletons (e.g. 17% of mothers of WA twins had hypertension/pre-eclampsia/eclampsia vs 8% of mothers of singletons) but similar to mothers of NSW non-Aboriginal twins. Most Aboriginal twins were born in a principal referral, women's or large public hospital. The hospitals were often far from the mother's home (e.g. 31% of mothers of WA Aboriginal twins gave birth at hospitals located more than 3 h by road from their home). Outcomes were worse for Aboriginal liveborn twins than Aboriginal singletons and non-Aboriginal twins (e.g. 58% of NSW Aboriginal twins were preterm compared to 9% of Aboriginal singletons and 49% non-Aboriginal twins). CONCLUSIONS: Mothers of Aboriginal twins faced significant challenges during the pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period in hospital and, in addition to accessible specialist medical care, these mothers may need extra practical and psychosocial support throughout their journey.

It's about who they are and what they can do: Maori perspectives on frailty in later life.

AIM: This study aimed to explore Maori (the indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand) understandings of frailty. METHOD: Focus groups were held with older Maori in supported living, health professionals working with older Maori and a rural community. A qualitative thematic analysis was conducted. RESULTS: Two interlinked, overarching themes emerged: (1) Frailty is a multidimensional experience, not simply a physical one. (2) The experience of frailty is a balance between deficits and strengths. The Waikare o te Waka o Meihana model provided a useful framework for structuring the thematic results. CONCLUSIONS: Culturally appropriate and comprehensive support and care for older Maori with frailty will be facilitated by a rounded strength-based approach and listening skills.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi compliance in regulated health practitioner competency documents in Aotearoa.

Within Aotearoa (New Zealand) there are systemic health inequities between Maori (the Indigenous people of Aotearoa) and other New Zealanders. These inequities are enabled in part by the failure of the health providers, policy and practitioners to fulfil treaty obligations to Maori as outlined in our foundational document, te Tiriti o Waitangi (te Tiriti). Regulated health professionals have the potential to play a central role in upholding te Tiriti and addressing inequities. Competency documents define health professionals' scope of practice and inform curriculum in health faculties. In this novel study, we critically examine 18 regulated health practitioners' competency documents, which were sourced from the websites of their respective professional bodies. The competencies were reviewed using an adapted criterion from Critical te Tiriti Analysis, a five-phase analysis process, to determine their compliance with te Tiriti. There was considerable variation in the quality of the competency documents reviewed. Most were not te Tiriti compliant. We identified a range of alternative competencies that could strengthen te Tiriti engagement. They focussed on (i) the importance of whanaungatanga (the active making of relationships with Maori), (ii) non-Maori consciously becoming an ally with Maori in the pursuit of racial justice and (iii) actively engaging in decolonisation or power-sharing. In the context of Aotearoa, competency documents need to be te Tiriti compliant to fulfil treaty obligations and policy expectations about health equity. An adapted version of Critical te Tiriti Analysis might be useful for those interested in racial justice who want to review health competencies in other colonial settings.

Prediabetes and pregnancy: Early pregnancy HbA1c identifies Australian Aboriginal women with high-risk of gestational diabetes mellitus and adverse perinatal outcomes.

AIMS: To assess whether early pregnancy HbA1c can predict gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and adverse birth outcomes in Australian women. METHODS: Prospective study of 466 women without diabetes, aged ≥16-years at first antenatal presentation. Recruitment was from 27 primary healthcare sites in rural and remote Australia from 9-January 2015 to 31-May 2018. HbA1c was measured with first antenatal investigations (<20-weeks gestation). Primary outcome measure was predictive value of HbA1c for GDM, by routine 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT; ≥24-weeks gestation), and for large-for-gestational-age (LGA) newborn. RESULTS: Of 396 (129 Aboriginal) women with routine OGTT, 28.8% had GDM (24.0% Aboriginal). HbA1c ≥5.6% (≥38 mmol/mol) was highly predictive (71.4%, 95% CI; 47.8-88.7%) for GDM in Aboriginal women, and in the total cohort increased risk for LGA newborn (RR 2.04, 95% CI; 1.03-4.01, P = 0.040). There were clear differences between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal women: 16.3% v 5.2% (P < 0.001) had elevated HbA1c whereas 12.4% v 29.6% (P < 0.001) developed hyperglycemia during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Early pregnancy HbA1c ≥5.6% (≥38 mmol/mol) identifies Aboriginal women with apparent prediabetes and elevated risk of having an LGA newborn. Universal HbA1c at first antenatal presentation could facilitate earlier management of hyperglycemia and improved perinatal outcome in this high-risk population.

Suicide prevention during COVID-19: identification of groups with reduced presentations to emergency departments.

OBJECTIVE: Reductions in suicidal and self-harm presentations to emergency departments (EDs) since COVID-19 indicate changes in help-seeking behaviours, but it is unknown if hospital avoidance equally affects all population groups. METHOD: Socio-demographic and clinical information relating to suicidal and self-harm presentations to EDs in Queensland, Australia, were compared for the period before (March-August 2019) and since the COVID-19 outbreak (March-August 2020). RESULTS: Since COVID, Indigenous Australians and persons with less severe suicidal and self-harm presentations had significantly reduced presentations, while persons younger than 18 years had more presentations. Less suicidal presentations resulted in an admission to inpatient care. CONCLUSIONS: Patterns of reduced attendance to ED in some groups suggest the need for innovative and community-based models of care to help prevent suicides during the pandemic.