Health – New report challenges health services to make whakawhanaungatanga central to the care of Māori after major trauma

A new report is calling for health services to ensure whakawhanaungatanga is central to the care and rehabilitation of Māori suffering traumatic injury.

Whakawhanaungatanga is about making connections and relating to people in culturally appropriate ways.

Produced by the Health Quality & Safety Commission and the National Trauma Network, the Ngā whānau Māori wheako ki te tauwhiro pāmamae me te whakaoranga |Whānau Māori experiences of major trauma care and rehabilitation report highlights how experiences of care may influence rehabilitation and outcomes for whānau Māori.

Report author and project lead Sharon Pihema (Ngāti Porou) says while Māori have higher rates of traumatic injury than other population groups, they also access health and social services to support rehabilitation less than non-Māori.

Interviews with 21 Māori aged between 16 and 64 years who had experienced trauma (ranging from brain injury to amputation) following motor vehicle, bike, scooter, falls and assault were captured in the report.

Rehabilitation for whānau Māori was often difficult and complicated, and the impact of major trauma on individuals and their whānau significant. Injuries often completely changed the way people were able to live, work, play and participate in everyday activities, Ms Pihema said.

‘While only four of those interviewed described their rehabilitation experience as entirely positive, several whānau spoke of Māori staff members in hospitals or rehabilitation centres providing valuable cultural support during their stay. They valued this type of manaakitanga and piki ora [wellbeing support, recovery) and were appreciative of how Māori staff helped them in their healing,’ she said.

The place of whakawhanaungatanga, was critical. Many whānau interviewed said that, where kaupapa Māori principles such as wairuatanga (spirituality), whanaungatanga (family connections) and kotahitanga (togetherness) were present, it engaged them in the care process and made their recovery easier and rehabilitation less difficult.

When cultural concepts were included that viewed wellbeing beyond physical injuries, the health and disability system gained an opportunity to improve the quality of care for Māori.

The report makes six recommendations to build culturally and medically responsive health and social services for trauma care, each of which includes explicit actions directed at health services and government agencies.

‘The National Trauma Network looks forward to working with services and agencies to create a stronger understanding of factors that promote positive care experiences and influence longer-term effects of injury among Māori,’ Ms Pihema said.