Respiratory infections in Tamariki (children) and Taitamariki (young people) Maori, New Zealand.

ABSTRACT

The Maori population is young, with 53% aged less than 25 years and with a higher prevalence of both acute (bronchiolitis, pneumonia, pertussis, tuberculosis) and chronic (bronchiectasis) respiratory tract infections than non-Maori. Environmental, economic and poorer access to health promotion programmes and health care rather than specific or genetic underlying disorders appear to contribute to this burden. While new initiatives are needed, we can do better with current public health programmes and building on regional initiatives that have already proven successful.