Experience of Racism and Associations with Unmet Need and Healthcare Satisfaction: the 2011/12 Adult New Zealand Health Survey

Objective: Racism may affect health through differential access to, and quality of, healthcare. This study examined associations between experience of racism and unmet need and satisfaction with healthcare.

Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of the 2011/12 adult New Zealand Health Survey (n=12,596) was undertaken. Logistic regression was used to examine associations between experience of racism (by a health professional and other experiences of racism [ever]) and unmet need for a general practitioner and satisfaction with a usual medical centre in the past year.

Results: Experience of racism by a health professional and other forms of racism were higher among Māori, Pacific and Asian groups compared to European/Other. Both racism measures were associated with higher unmet need (health professional racism adjusted OR 3.52, 95%CI 2.42-5.11; other racism OR 2.21, 95%CI 1.78-2.75) and lower satisfaction with a usual medical centre (health professional racism adjusted OR 0.25, 95%CI 0.15-0.34; other racism OR 0.60, 95%CI 0.45-0.79).

Conclusions: Racism may act as a barrier to, and influence the quality of, healthcare. Implications for public health: Addressing racism as a public health issue and major driver of inequities in healthcare and health outcomes is required within the health sector and wider society.