Research Topics

Maori mother’s survey launched
The Issue of Bedsharing
Other Topics (downloadable papers)

Maori mother’s survey launched 20/11/08

Another November Maori SIDS milestone was a mihi whakatau held at the School of Population Health, Tamaki Campus to welcome student researchers, Charlotte Rhea (Ngai Tahu) and Rebecca White (Tainui). They will be supervised by Angeline Tangiora (Maori SIDS Research Project Manager) and supported by Lynne Hutchison. The students will conduct a survey of Maori mothers of infants born at Middlemore Hospital in South Auckland. Aspects of the study is to find out what types of information mothers have with regards to SIDS risk factors and infant care practices. This study is based on a previous research project carried out at the North Shore Hospital. For the next two months, we will keep you updated on how the project is progressing.

Click here for an overview of the North Shore study.

The Issue of Bedsharing

An abstract that raises the controversial issue of bedsharing
Bedsharing, a valued practice for generations of Maori, was implicated by NZ epidemiologists as a risk factor in SIDS. We, as health professionals were charged with the responsibility of presenting a public health message that was at the same time, acceptable in Maori communities and cognizant of scientific opinion.

The thrust of our public health message regarding bedsharing changed over the years. Research revealed more about the relative importance of various risk factors for SIDS. In particular, the interaction between bedsharing and cigarette smoking was of vital importance.

We began considering bedsharing to be an independent risk factor. Then it was discovered that the bedsharing was a major risk in the presence of cigarette smoking. On its own the risk was almost negligible. Finally, the realisation that smoking in pregnancy (not environmental smoke) was the culprit in the bedsharing/cigarette smoking risk led us to our present health promotion messages.
We presently promote ‘Safe Sleeping Environments for Infants’. We do not counsel against bedsharing at all where there was a smoke-free pregnancy. We advise that where mother smoked during pregnancy, the baby can be cuddled, fed and cradled in bed but that when the parents go to sleep, the baby should be placed, on their back in a cot free of potential suffocants like bumpers, toys, pillows and loose blankets.

Bedsharing Among Maoris – An indigenous Tradition (PDF 13KB)
This article presents Maori perspective on bedsharing.

Bedsharing and smoking same problem (PDF 21KB)
A significant article that counteracts claims against bedsharing and fully explains the deadly combination of bedsharing and maternal smoking.

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Topics

Maori SIDS
Bed sharing
Maori Grief
Coronial Process
Infant Care Practices
Kaupapa Maori Research
New Zealand Cot Death Study
Antenatal Services
SIDS and Smoking
SIDS and Pacifiers

By clicking on the Title link, it will open a PDF document in a new page.

Maori SIDS

Title	Short Summary	Creator	Date	PDF size
A Decade Of Maori SIDS Deaths	The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the significance of the definition of Maori ethnicity to the statistical trends arising from Maori SIDS mortality over the decade 1988-1999	Dr David Tipene-Leach		99 KB
Experiences Of Maori SIDS Mothers, Caregivers And Whanau	This report describes findings from a qualitative research project that aimed to investigate the life stories, experiences and insights of Maori SIDS mothers as a contribution to understanding the wider context of Maori SIDS and developing planning strategies to reduce the incidence of SIDS in Maori communities	Verne M. McManus, Sally Abel, Tim McCreanor, Riripeti Haretuku, David Tipene-Leach	2005	254 KB
Experiences Of Maori Sids Mothers Caregivers And Whanau	Experiences of Maori SIDS mothers caregivers and whanau	Verne McManus, Sally Abel, Tim McCreanor, Riripeti Haretuku, David Tipene-Leach		1.01 MB
Maori Infant Care Practices: Implications For Health Messages, Infant Care Services And Sids Prevention In Maori Communities	This paper uses findings from the Maori section of a multi-ethnic infant care practices (ICP) study undertaken in Auckland, New Zealand/Aotearoa, in 1998. It aims to increase understanding of present day Maori infant care practices	Tipene-Leach D., S. Abel, J. Park, S. Finau & M. Lennan		90 KB
Maori SIDS Prevention Programme	Taking a strategic approach to SIDS prevention in Maori communities – an indigenous perspective	David Tipene-Leach, Caroline Everard, Riripeti Haretuku	2001	147 KB
Taking A Strategic Approach To Sids Prevention In Maori Communities – An Indigenous Perspective	Dr. David Tipene-Leach, Carol Everard, Riripeti Haretuku			33KB
The Maori SIDS Prevention Programme: Challenges And Implications For Maori Health Service Development	The Maori SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) Prevention Programme was initiated to address the problem that the Maori SIDS death rate was not decreasing as quickly as the non-Maori rate in response to the Ministry of Health's national SIDS prevention campaign. This paper traces the development of the programme	Dr David Tipene-Leach, Dr Sally Abel, Riripeti Haretuku, Carol Everard	2000	50 KB
The SIDS Care Workers Study Perceptions Of The Experience Of Maori SIDS Families	This paper reports on a qualitative scoping study with members of the national Maori SIDS Prevention Unit, drawing upon their cumulative knowledge and expertise to shed light on the fraught interfaces between families and institutions that follow SIDS.	Tim McCreanor, David Tipene Leach, Sally Abel	2004	84 KB
The SIDS Care-Worker Study	An Exploratory Interview (PowerPoint presentation)	Dr. David Tipene-Leach, Dr. Tim McCreanor		232 KB
Bedsharing			Back to Top
Title	Short Summary	Creator	Date	PDF size
Bedsharing Among Maoris: An Indigenous Tradition - Special Issue	Bedsharing among Maoris	David Tipene-Leach, Riripeti Haretuku		30 KB
Maori Grief			Back to Top
Title	Short Summary	Creator	Date	PDF size
Children’s Grief	Helping Your Other Children When your Baby Dies	Anahera Herbert		12 KB
Collaborative Research With Maori On Sensitive Issues	The Application of Tikanga and Kaupapa in Research Around Maori Sudden Infant Death Syndrome	Shane Edwards, Verne McManus, Tim McCreanor		76 KB
Collaborative Research With Maori On Sensitive Issues: The Application Of Tikanga And Kaupapa In Research On Maori Sudden Infant Death Syndrome	This paper describes research practices and experiences employed by Mäori field researchers within the context of a current research project that investigates the knowledge and insights of Mäori families that have lost a child to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome	Shane Edwards, Verne McManus, Tim McCreanor	2005	82 KB
He Wahine Tangi Tikapa Experiences Of Maori Sids Parents, Caregivers And Whanau – Paper 1	Experiences of Maori SIDS Parents, Caregivers and Whanau	Eileen Clarke, Riripeti Haretuku, Tim McCreanor		685 KB
He Wahine Tangi Tikapa	An Exploration of the Factors and Processes which Influence the Immediate and Long-Term Well-Being of Whanau who have Experienced a Sudden Infant Death	Eileen Clarke, Riripeti Haretuku, Tim McCreanor		306 KB
Love Your Woman, Because It Ain’t Nobodies Fault: The SIDS Experiences Of Maori Males	The Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Experiences of Maori Males	Shane Edwards	2003	103 KB
Love Your Woman, Because It Ain’t Nobody’s Fault: The Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (Sids) Experiences Of Maori Males	The Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Experiences of Maori Males (PowerPoint presentation)	Shane Edwards	2003	211 KB
Parents' Grief	The Grief of Parents after an Unexpected Sleep-related Infant Death	Anahera Herbert		113 KB
Protocols And Customs At The Time Of A Maori Death	A paper prepared by Anahera Herbert to assist those working with Maori at the time of a death	Anahera Herbert	2001	120 KB
Coronial Process			Back to Top
Title	Short Summary	Creator	Date	PDF size
Diagnosing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome – The Role Of History And Post Mortem Examination	Data surrounding the death of every infant in the postneonatal age group resident in the Auckland Area Health Board region in a 3 year period were analysed	SJ Jessup, DMO Becroft, EA Mitchell		25 KB
Reorienting Family Services The Professional Response To Sudden Unexpected Deaths In Infancy Issues And Protocols	This paper discusses key service and support issues faced by families who have experienced a sudden unexplained death of an infant (SUDI)	David Tipene-Leach, Sally Abel,Carole Everard, Riripeti Haretuku	2000	143 KB
Reorienting Family Services: The Professional Response To Sudden Unexpected Deaths In Infancy – Issues And Protocols		Dr David Tipene-Leach, Dr Sally Abel, Riripeti Haretuku, Carol Everard	2002	144 KB
Submission To The Law Commission On SUDI Death Scene	The current coronial investigation into SUDI deaths needs to change its primary focus on forensic investigation to one that also meets the needs of the families, including the collection of data for public education and prevention of these deaths.	Carol Everard		42 KB
Infant Care Practices			Back to Top
Title	Short Summary	Creator	Date	PDF size
Infant Care Practices In New Zealand: A Cross-Cultural Qualitative Study	This paper describes and compares the infant care practices and beliefs of Maori, Tongan, Samoan, Cook Islands, Niuean and Pakeha (European) caregivers residing in Auckland, New Zealand.	Sally Abel, Julie Park, David Tipene-Leach, Sitaleki Finau, Michele Lennan		152 KB
Maori Infant Care Practices- Research	A report that describes the infant care practices of Maori parents/caregivers of under 12 month old infants who took part in a qualitative study involving focus group discussions			167 KB
Kaupapa Maori Research			Back to Top
Title	Short Summary	Creator	Date	PDF size
Kaupapa Maori Methodology: Our Power To Define Ourselves	Kaupapa Maori is the development of ‘insider’ methodologies that incorporate a critique of research and ways for carrying out research for Maori, with Maori and by Maori.	Linda Tuhiwai Smith	1999	129 KB
Kaupapa Maori: Explaining The Ordinary		Helen Moewaka Barnes	2000	98 KB
New Zealand Cot Death Study			Back to Top
Title	Short Summary	Creator	Date	PDF size
Managing The New Zealand Cot Death Study: Lessons From Between The Rock and A Hard Place		Carol Everard		29 KB
Antenatal Services			Back to Top
Title	Short Summary	Creator	Date	PDF size
Matauranga Haputanga – Antenatal Services For Maori Women	The aim of this paper is to discuss the needs of Maori women in relation to antenatal education and services	Raeleen de Joux		38 KB
SIDS and Smoking			Back to Top
Title	Short Summary	Creator	Date	PDF size
The New Zealand Experience: How Smoking Affects SIDS Rates		Barry Taylor, Sally Baddock, Rodney Ford, Ed Mitchell, David Tipene-Leach, Barbara Galland	2002	21 KB
The New Zealand Experience: How Smoking Affects SIDS Rates - Special Issue	New Zealand is a small country--the size of England--with a population of just over four million, of which 15 percent are indigenous Maori. In the 1980s we had the unenviable reputation of having one of the highest rates of infant death in the Western world. The majority of the excess of deaths (compared to other countries)were recorded as being due infant death syndrome (SIDS)	Barry Taylor, Sally Baddock, Rodney Ford, Ed Mitchell, David Tipene-Leach, Barbara Galland	2002	37 KB
SIDS and Pacifiers			Back to Top
Title	Short Summary	Creator	Date	PDF size
Use Of A Dummy (Pacifier) During Sleep And Risk Of SIDS	Use of a dummy seems to reduce the risk of SIDS and possibly reduces the influence of known risk factors in the sleep environment.	De-Kun Li, et al	2005	247 KB