Middle Eastern and African older population

Demography

Census 2013 data shows that Middle Eastern, Latin American and African (MELAA) groups living in the Auckland region have increased since the 2006 Census from 1.3% to 1.7% of the Auckland region population (SNZ 2013). Approximately 80% of MELAA peoples are born overseas (Perumal, 2011).

The Health needs assessment of Middle Eastern, Latin American and African people living in the Auckland region shows significant deprivation in Middle Eastern and African groups (Perumal, 2011). Most people in the Middle Eastern and African groups live in rental accommodation and many in crowded accommodation. Almost 60% of Africans and 55% of Middle Eastern people were on the unemployment benefit (Perumal, 2011).

The effects of the refugee experience

It is important to recognise that those who have arrived in New Zealand as refugees and asylum seekers, or as the family members of refugees, may be in poorer health than ‘voluntary’ migrants.

Refugees have faced significant periods of civil war, loss of family and community, flight to countries of asylum, and years in dangerous refugee camps. Refugees may experience significant mental and emotional distress as a result of their refugee experiences, and further being resettled in an alien society. Like migrant groups, refugees may experience a loss of status and respect once settled in New Zealand. Many refugees face discrimination in employment and rates of unemployment are high in refugee communities. Older people from refugee backgrounds face the problems of loneliness and isolation in New Zealand; along with intergenerational issues, which impacts on their mental health and wellbeing.

Health status of Middle Eastern and African older people

Middle Eastern people in the Auckland Region have a higher estimated prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) than Europeans and Pacific people (Perumal, 2011). In males, Africans have a marked rise in CVD prevalence from age 55 years onwards, becoming the ethnicity with the highest prevalence in the 75+ year age group, compared with all other ethnicities. In women, Middle Eastern people appeared to have a similar trend in the prevalence of CVD as that of Pacific people, which was higher than European women until 74 years of age. Middle Eastern people have higher rates of hospitalisations from angina and chest pain than ‘Others’ and Maori and Pacific peoples.

All three MELAA ethnicities have approximately double the prevalence of diabetes compared with Europeans in Auckland, with Middle Eastern people having the highest prevalence (Perumal, 2011). All MELAA ethnicities have a markedly higher prevalence of diabetes than Europeans from age 35 years onward. In men, African people had a higher rate of hospitalisation from diabetes than ’Others’ and Maori. Both Middle Eastern men and women have higher rates of hospitalisations from diabetes than their counterparts in ‘Others’. The mortality rate and cancer registration rate in adults from cancer from all causes appears highest in Middle Eastern people compared with all other ethnicities (Perumal, 2011).