- Māori and Pasifika found it harder to see a GP when they had COVID-19, mainly due to the difficulty of getting an appointment and cost: 43% of Māori and 36% of Pasifika had seen a GP, compared with 55% of Pākehā and other participants
- disabled people were also more likely to report barriers to seeing a GP, either because they didn’t have transport or a caregiver or support person, or because they owed money to their health provider
- Māori (13%) and Pasifika (14%) were more likely to report they were unable to afford a prescription medication since getting COVID-19, compared with 5% of other participants
- levels of anxiety and depression among respondents were high: 75% of Pasifika and 62% of Māori reported anxiety or depression, compared with 56% of other participants
- experience of anxiety or depression was much more likely to be reported among disabled people, indicating significant mental health needs for those with disabilities
- financial concerns contributed to stress for many, with 57% of Māori and 40% of Pasifika reporting money worries, compared with 30% of other participants
- since having COVID-19, 18% of Pasifika and 12% of Māori participants said their whanau was “doing worse”; in comparison, just 2% of other participants said their whanau was “doing worse”
- Māori and Pasifika were also more likely to report needing ongoing support: 23% of Māori and 21% of Pasifika said they continued to need support since having COVID-19, compared with 16% of other participants.
- ensure the ongoing COVID-19 response is based on Te Tiriti o Waitangi and responds to the needs of Māori communities
- significantly reduce barriers to primary health care, especially for Māori, Pasifika, and disabled people, to address inequities in health and well-being
- provide a wider range of services to support whānau and families in the future and fund community organizations to deliver these services
- develop a mental health plan to deal with the fallout from COVID-19 as well as future pandemics
- revisit the recommendations of the Welfare Expert Advisory Group, particularly in relation to income support policies
- reconsider sick leave and employment support policies to ensure that in future pandemics people can take time off work when unwell
- develop a consumer-led Long COVID service, integrated with primary health care services.
About the study
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