Ethnic discrimination prevalence and associations with health outcomes: data from a nationally representative cross-sectional survey of secondary school students in New Zealand

BMC Public Health

Research Article

Shanthi Ameratunga¹  Elizabeth Robinson¹  Terryann Clark²  Deborah Raphael²  Sue Crengle³ 

[1] Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Wellesley St, Auckland, New Zealand;School of Nursing, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Wellesley St, Auckland, New Zealand;Te Kupenga Hauora Māori, School of Population Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Wellesley St, Auckland, New Zealand;

关键词: Ethnic Group;    Binge Drinking;    Secondary School Student;    Unfair Treatment;    Ethnic Discrimination;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2458-12-45

 received in 2011-08-16, accepted in 2012-01-18,  发布年份 2012

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundReported ethnic discrimination is higher among indigenous and minority adult populations. There is a paucity of nationally representative prevalence studies of ethnic discrimination among adolescents. Experiencing ethnic discrimination has been associated with a range of adverse health outcomes. NZ has a diverse ethnic population. There are health inequalities among young people from Māori and Pacific ethnic groups.Methods9107 randomly selected secondary school students participated in a nationally representative cross-sectional health and wellbeing survey conducted in 2007. The prevalence of ethnic discrimination by health professionals, by police, and ethnicity-related bullying were analysed. Logistic regression was used to examine the associations between ethnic discrimination and six health/wellbeing outcomes: self-rated health status, depressive symptoms in the last 12 months, cigarette smoking, binge alcohol use, feeling safe in ones neighbourhood, and self-rated school achievement.ResultsThere were significant ethnic differences in the prevalences of ethnic discrimination. Students who experienced ethnic discrimination were less likely to report excellent/very good/good self-rated general health (OR 0.51; 95% CI 0.39, 0.65), feel safe in their neighbourhood (OR 0.48; 95% CI 0.40, 0.58), and more likely to report an episode of binge drinking in the previous 4 weeks (OR 1.77; 95% CI 1.45, 2.17). For all these outcomes the odds ratios for the group who were 'unsure' if they had experienced ethnic discrimination were similar to those of the 'yes' group.Ethnicity stratified associations between ethnic discrimination and the depression, cigarette smoking, and self-rated school achievement are reported. Within each ethnic group participants reporting ethnic discrimination were more likely to have adverse outcomes for these three variables. For all three outcomes the direction and size of the association between experience of ethnic discrimination and the outcome were similar across all ethnic groups.ConclusionsEthnic discrimination is more commonly reported by Indigenous and minority group students. Both experiencing and being 'unsure' about experiencing ethnic discrimination are associated with a range of adverse health/wellbeing outcomes. Our findings highlight the progress yet to be made to ensure that rights to be free from ethnic discrimination are met for young people living in New Zealand.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Crengle et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2012