Māori and Rural Children at Risk of Severe Appendicitis

New research has found that Māori and rural children are at a significantly greater risk of developing severe paediatric appendicitis. According to Dr Brodie Elliot, the lead researcher on this study, one in 10 children will get appendicitis, with severe cases linked to poor health literacy and longer delays in getting to a hospital.

Severity of Appendicitis: A Growing Concern

Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix and can be life-threatening. Symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, loss of appetite, fever, and pain with movement. Dr Elliot explained that the bad side effects of appendicitis and mortality rates are associated with complicated or perforated appendicitis.

Rural Children Most Affected

Research shows that rural children suffer from severe appendicitis four times the rate of those in living urban areas, and Māori children double the rate than non-Māori. This highlights a significant disparity in healthcare outcomes based on socioeconomic factors.

The Challenges of Rural Healthcare Access

“The risk of perforation occurs before reaching the hospital,” Dr Elliot said. “We’ve got an unequal outcome based on socioeconomic factors that occur before a prompt hospital response.” Parents in rural areas face significant challenges when deciding whether to seek medical attention for their child due to factors such as travel distance, multiple children, and previous bad experiences with the hospital.

“As soon as you add in rurality, travel distance, [having] multiple children, and previous bad experiences with the hospital, your threshold as parents is going to be higher to access hospital. And that sneaks in inequities, I believe, occur in paediatric appendicitis,” Dr Elliot added.

Call for Action

The findings of this research emphasize the need for improved healthcare infrastructure and policies in rural areas to address these disparities. By working together, we can ensure that all children have equal access to quality healthcare, regardless of their location or socioeconomic status.

This study highlights the importance of addressing health inequities and providing support to vulnerable populations. As Dr Elliot noted, “The risk of perforation occurs before reaching the hospital.” It is our responsibility to create a healthcare system that prioritizes the needs of all children, particularly those in rural and Māori communities.