Subsequent injuries experienced by Māori: results from a 24-month prospective study in New Zealand
Emma Wyeth, Michelle Lambert, Ari Samaranayaka, Helen Harcombe, Gabrielle Davie, Sarah Derrett
Mori, the indigenous population of New Zealand, experience a disproportionate burden of injury compared to non-Mori. The impact of injury can be exacerbated by subsequent injuries, ie, injuries that occur after, but not necessarily because of, an earlier injury. Using interview, ACC and hospital discharge data, this study aimed to describe subsequent injuries experienced by Mori to determine: the number and timing of subsequent injury claims reported to ACC in the 24 months following an earlier injury; the proportions of Mori experiencing subsequent injuries; and the nature of subsequent injuries. Findings show that 62% of Mori participants who had already experienced a profound injury went on to experience a subsequent injury that reported to ACC within a 24-month period. This suggests that the subsequent injury burden for Mori is considerable, and that preventive opportunities are potentially being missed.