Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 9, 2025
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Parental education and hospitalisations among Pacific children: A cross-sectional study using linked administrative
Jesse Kokaua1, Troy Ruhe1, Nicholas Bowden2
1Centre for Pacific Health-Va'a O Tautai, Division of Health Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Insights
Parental education protects Pacific children in Aotearoa New Zealand from potentially avoidable hospitalizations. Higher education levels were linked to reduced risk, even when accounting for socioeconomic factors, supporting educational initiatives for family health.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Sociology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Pacific children in Aotearoa New Zealand face health disparities.
- Parental education is a potential socioeconomic determinant of child health outcomes.
- Understanding protective factors is crucial for targeted health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the protective effect of parental education on hospitalizations in Pacific children.
- To analyze the association between parental educational attainment and potentially avoidable hospitalizations.
- To examine the impact of parental education on private hospitalizations.
Main Methods:
- Utilized linked 2013 Census, health, and demographic data for over 139,000 Pacific children and 659,000 other children.
- Analyzed hospitalization incidence between March 2013 and February 2018 using modified Poisson regression.
- Assessed parental educational levels from no qualification to PhD.
Main Results:
- Highest parental education was protective against potentially avoidable hospitalizations for Pacific children (RR=0.97, p<0.0001).
- Higher parental education was associated with an increased risk of private hospitalizations (RR=1.25, p<0.0001).
- These associations remained significant independently of socioeconomic benefits.
Conclusions:
- Parental educational attainment is a significant factor influencing Pacific children's hospitalization risks.
- Promoting continuing education is a valuable investment for the future health of Pacific families.
- Targeted public health strategies should consider educational initiatives to improve child health outcomes.
Abstract:
For Pacific children in Aotearoa New Zealand under 20 years of age, this study investigates whether parental education is protective in terms of hospitalisations. For 139,686 Pacific and 659,055 other (non-Māori/non-Pacific) children, a population data extract for them and their parents was used from linked 2013 Census, health and demographic data. Binary indicators of incidence of hospitalisations between 1 March 2013 and 28 February 2018 were analysed using modified Poisson regression models with robust standard errors. The highest parental educational level of either parent ranged from 0 indicating no qualification and increased incrementally to 10 signifying a PhD. Over the study period, 1% of Pacific children were hospitalised in private hospitals and 24% with a potentially avoidable hospitalisation. Highest parental education level was protective for Pacific children, with a single level in parental qualification associated with a small but significantly lower risk of potentially avoidable hospitalisation (RR = 0.97, p < 0.0001), but a higher risk of private hospitalisation (RR = 1.25, p < 0.0001). This finding remained significant, independent from the contribution of increased socioeconomic benefits that accompanied improved education. These findings support ongoing Pacific focused initiatives for promoting continuing education as an investment for the future health of Pacific families.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:18Types of Records II: Educational and Administrative Records
01:26Longitudinal Studies
02:20Longitudinal Research
01:11Observational Studies
There are three types of observational studies – Prospective, retrospective, and cross-sectional.
Prospective Study
Prospective studies, also known as longitudinal or cohort studies, are carried out by collecting future data from groups sharing similar characteristics. One...
01:26Introduction to Epidemiology