Leon Iusitini

Intimate partner violence and unplanned pregnancy in the Pacific Islands Families Study

To examine the association between maternal intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization and unplanned pregnancy.

Maternal mental health and child behaviour problems at 2 years: findings from the Pacific Islands Families Study.

Objective: The present study investigated associations between the timing and persistence of maternal psychological disorder and child behaviour problems in a cohort of Pacific 2-year-old children in New Zealand. Method: Mothers of a cohort of 1398 Pacific infants born in South Auckland, New Zealand were interviewed when their children were 6 weeks, 12 and 24 months of age. Within the context of a wider interview, data regarding maternal mental health were obtained at these times and maternal reports of child behaviour were gathered when the children were 2 years old. Results: Prevalence rates for internalizing problems were significantly higher in children of mothers who had self-reported symptoms of psychological disorder (11.9% in no symptoms, 27.8% in early symptoms of postnatal depression, 21.1% in late symptoms of psychological disorder and 42.9% in persistent or recurrent symptoms). The adjusted odds ratio (OR) of a child having internalizing problems was 1.38 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.79–2.43) in those of mothers reporting early symptoms of postnatal depression, 1.45 (95%CI: 0.85–2.49) in late symptoms of psychological disorder, and 2.93 (95%CI: 1.54–5.57) in persistent or recurrent symptoms relative to the no symptoms group. For externalizing problems, the effects of maternal psychological disorder were not significant. Conclusions: Maternal persistent or recurrent symptoms of psychological disorder may contribute to the behaviour problems of children as young as 2 years old. However, the timing of disorder, whether it is infant or toddler exposure, does not appear to be as crucial. Improved understanding of the associations between maternal psychological disorder and early child behaviour problems may help maternal and child health professionals design appropriate and effective screening and intervention programs to help Pacific mothers and children.

Impact of current and past intimate partner violence on maternal mental health and behaviour at 2 years after childbirth: evidence from the Pacific Islands Families Study

Objective: The present study examined the association between maternal intimate partner violence (IPV) at 6 weeks and 24 months postpartum and maternal health problems in a cohort of Pacific families with 2-year-old children in New Zealand. Methods: Data were gathered from the Pacific Islands Families Study. Mothers of a cohort of Pacific infants born in Auckland, New Zealand during 2000 were interviewed when the children were 6 weeks and 24 months of age. There were 828 mothers cohabiting in married or de facto partnerships who completed measures of IPV, mental health, and health-related behaviour such as smoking and high-risk alcohol use at both data points. The main statistical method used was logistic regression analysis. Results: Compared to mothers who did not experience physical violence at either data point, the odds of reporting psychological distress were 2.42 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.07–5.44) for those experiencing physical violence at 6 weeks only, 3.47 (95%CI = 1.75–6.86) for those experiencing physical violence at 24 months only, and 3.84 (95%CI = 1.78–8.30) for those experiencing physical violence at both data points after controlling for sociodemographic factors. Mothers experiencing verbal aggression or physical violence at both data points were more likely to report smoking or high-risk alcohol use at 24 months than those who did not, but the associations were no longer significant after controlling for sociodemographic factors. Conclusion: Being a victim of intimate partner physical violence at any time (past, recent and repeated) may contribute to an increase in maternal psychological distress. Health-related behaviours such as smoking and high-risk alcohol use at 24 months postpartum may to some degree be attributable to repeated victimization of physical violence and verbal aggression, but the relationships are not convincing and deserve further research in longitudinal studies.

Maternal intimate partner violence and behavioural problems among Pacific children living in New Zealand.

AIMS To examine (1) the association between maternal intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration and victimisation and behavioural problems among two- and four-year-old Pacific children, and (2) the socio-demographic and parenting factors that may impact on this association. DESIGN Mothers of the Pacific Islands Families (PIF) cohort of Pacific infants born in New Zealand during 2000 were interviewed when the children were two and four years of age. This data set was based on mothers who were cohabiting in married or de-facto partnerships (N = 920) and who completed measures of IPV at the two-year assessment point and the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) at the two-or four-year assessment points. Of these, 709 mothers completed the CBCL at both assessment points. RESULTS There were no significant associations between IPV and the prevalence rates of clinically relevant cases of behavioural problems in the two-year-old child cohort. However, the prevalence rates of clinically relevant internalising, externalising and total problem cases were significantly higher among four-year-old children of mothers who reported severe perpetration of IPV. The odds of being in clinical range of internalising were 2.16 times higher for children of mothers who were perpetrators of severe physical violence than for those children of mothers who were not, and for externalising and total problems they were 2.38 and 2.36 times higher respectively. Socio-demographic and parenting factors did not significantly influence the association between IPV and child behaviour problems. CONCLUSION These findings contribute to the complex picture of the consequences that exposure to parental violence may have on the behaviour of young children. The effectiveness of preventative strategies may be maximised if implemented in these early years before such problems become entrenched and lead on to future behavioural problems and impaired family relationships.

Do perceptions of neighbourhood problems contribute to maternal health?: Findings from the Pacific Islands Families study

Research suggests that physical and social aspects of the neighbourhood have a bearing on our well-being. As part of the Pacific Islands Families Study, this study examined maternal perceptions and socio-demographic determinants of neighbourhood problems and their association with mental health. The main problems reported centred on noise, pollution and safety matters. Ethnicity, deprivation and alcohol consumption were the best predictors of greater perceived neighbourhood problems. Adjusted analyses showed that those reporting greater neighbourhood problems were almost twice as likely as those reporting fewer problems to have psychological morbidity. Mothers with high deprivation scores were 7.3 times more likely to have psychological morbidity. Findings suggest that neighbourhood quality and socio-economic position are important contributors to mental health. Negative effects on health are likely to derive from exposure to pollutants and from problem features in the neighbourhood acting as sources of psychosocial stress and barriers to health promoting activities. Improvements to services and regulations may contribute to health gains.

Accelerometer data treatment for adolescents: Fitting a piece of the puzzle.

This study aimed to assess the differences in participant retention and associations between physical activity and key variables when a range of accelerometer data inclusion criteria are employed. Data were drawn from 204 adolescents of Pacific Island heritage (survey, body composition, 7-day accelerometry) and their parents (date of birth, socioeconomic status) between October 2014 and February 2016 in Auckland, New Zealand. Data wear time criteria for inclusion were as follows: A) > = 10 h/weekday or > = 8 h weekend day, > = 5 days (at least one weekend day); B) > = 10 h/weekday or > = 8 h weekend day, > = 4 days; C) > = 7 h/day, > = 3 days; D) > = 10 h/day, > = 1 day. Overall, 49%, 62%, 88%, and 96% of participants met the criteria, respectively. Adjusted odds of meeting each criterion were examined using a multivariable logistic regression model. Almost 50% of participants were excluded by the most stringent inclusion criteria. Increased body fat percentage and proportion of time in moderate-to-vigorous activity were associated with decreased odds of meeting Criterions A and B. This research contributes to a growing understanding of the impact of differing accelerometer reduction approaches to sample retention and bias in adolescent physical activity research.

Turnout and voting choices at general elections of Pacific peoples in New Zealand

This article examines turnout and voting choices at general elections among Pacific peoples in New Zealand between 1996 and 2011 and investigates this further through a secondary analysis of data from the New Zealand Election Study. It finds that turnout is lower among Pacific peoples compared to other electors, but that this is mainly accounted for by political-psychological and socio-demographic factors. It finds strong support for the Labour Party among Pacific peoples, who were twice as likely as other electors to vote Labour. Reasons for the strong attachment to Labour are explored, and the implications of lower turnout among Pacific peoples are discussed.

Cohort profile: Pacific Islands Families (PIF) growth study, Auckland, New Zealand

Purpose This article profiles a birth cohort of Pacific children participating in an observational prospective study and describes the study protocol used at ages 14–15 years to investigate how food and activity patterns, metabolic risk and family and built environment are related to rates of physical growth of Pacific children. Participants From 2000 to 2015, the Pacific Islands Families Study has followed, from birth, the growth and development of over 1000 Pacific children born in Auckland, New Zealand. In 2014, 931 (66%) of the original cohort had field measures of body composition, blood pressure and glycated haemoglobin. A nested subsample (n=204) was drawn by randomly selecting 10 males and 10 females from each decile of body weight. These participants had measurement of body composition by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, food frequency, 6 min walk test and accelerometer-determined physical activity and sedentary behaviours, and blood biomarkers for metabolic disease such as diabetes. Built environment variables were generated from individual addresses. Findings to date Compared to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reference population with mean SD scores (SDS) of 0, this cohort of 931 14-year-olds was taller, weighed more and had a higher body mass index (BMI) (mean SDS height >0.6, weight >1.6 and BMI >1.4). 7 of 10 youth were overweight or obese. The nested-sampling frame achieved an even distribution by body weight. Future plans Cross-sectional relationships between body size, fatness and growth rate, food patterns, activity patterns, pubertal development, risks for diabetes and hypertension and the family and wider environment will be examined. In addition, analyses will investigate relationships with data collected earlier in the life course and measures of the cohort in the future. Understanding past and present influences on child growth and health will inform timely interventions to optimise future health and reduce inequalities for Pacific people.

Parenting Practices Among Fathers of a Cohort of Pacific Infants in New Zealand

This study examined the nurturing and harsh disciplinary parenting practices of fathers of a cohort of Pacific children born in New Zealand. At the 12-month measurement point, 823 fathers completed a modified version of the Parent Behavior Checklist comprising 15 items, 10 forming a Nurturing subscale and 5 forming a Harsh Discipline subscale. Findings revealed that a majority of Pacific fathers never or rarely used harsh discipline with their 12-month-old child, and hitting with an object was extremely rare. Levels of nurturance were more mixed, with playing and praise being common, but provision and reading of books being relatively uncommon. Multivariate logistic regression showed that relatively low Nurturance scores were associated with cultural separation, lower formal education, and nonpartnered marital status. Relatively high Harsh Discipline scores were associated with partnered marital status, gambling, and harmful alcohol consumption. Relatively low Harsh Discipline scores were associated with Tongan ethnicity and cultural maintenance.

Pacific Islands Families Study: psychological distress among mothers of Pacific children living in New Zealand.

Objective: This study investigated: 1) the prevalence of psychological distress among a cohort of mothers of Pacific children; and 2) the socio‐demographic and lifestyle variables associated with psychological distress.