Increasing international evidence demonstrates the negative impact of racism on health and ethnic inequalities. Racial discrimination has been linked to a range of health measures for multiple ethnic groups and across various jurisdictions. However, studies of the impacts of racism on indigenous health or in the New Zealand context are limited.
This presentation will describe our work in this area including recent findings on self-reported experience of racism and its relationship to a range of health outcomes and health service utilization measures. We will also outline emerging research areas of socially assigned ethnicity and ethnic density, as well as current conceptual and measurement issues involved in the study of racism as a health determinant.
Presenters: Dr Ricci Harris and Dr Donna Cormack, University of Otago, Wellington
Dr Ricci Harris (Ngäti Kahungunu, Ngäti Raukawa, Ngai Tahu) is a public health physician and senior research fellow with Te Röpü Rangahau Hauora a Eru Pömare, University of Otago, Wellington. Her research focuses on Mäori health and the investigation and elimination of ethnic health inequalities in Aotearoa/New Zealand, particularly using epidemiological methods. This includes work on ethnic disparities in health and health care, the impact of racism on Mäori health and inequalities, and ethnicity data quality.
Dr Donna Cormack (Waitaha, Kati Mamoe, Kai Tahu) is a Mäori health researcher with Te Röpü Rangahau Hauora a Eru Pömare, University of Otago, Wellington. Donna has undertaken work on the collection and classification of ethnicity data in Aotearoa/New Zealand, particularly as it relates to measuring and monitoring disparities. Recently, Donna has been involved in a number of research projects examining the health impacts of racism for Mäori.
Light refreshments will be provided.
