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High rates of epilepsy in Maori probed 06 May 2021 08:00 AM Photo: Getty Images. A University of Otago Researcher has won funding for a two-year study on epilepsy among Maori. A University of Otago Researcher has won funding for a two-year study on epilepsy among Māori. Dr Ngaire Keenan says little is known about the causes of the disorder among Māori, but they are overrepresented. Māori are more likely to present to hospital with their seizures, they are more likely to present with severe seizures so long seizures that need a lot of treatment, the mortality rate in Māori with epilepsy is higher than non-Māori, and new research shows that when you look at tamariki Māori, they have more fits than they should have. Why is this happening? she says. ....
Dr Ngaire Keenan. Photo: Supplied Dr Ngaire Keenan (Ngāti Te Whiti, Te Ātiawa ki Taranaki), through an Otago University health research council funded project, is focused on understanding the reasons behind the increasing rates of epilepsy experienced by Māori children. What we re trying to ask is, is this disproportion or higher burden also related to the way the health system is treating Māori or tamariki Māori . She said it is one thing to look at the epilepsy itself, but it was also about how epilepsy was impacting these children and their whānau and whether they are they getting the appropriate care from the health system. ....