Parental education and hospitalisations among Pacific children: A cross-sectional study using linked administrative data in New Zealand’s Integrated Data Infrastructure

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.