Dr Jessica Dunning, Auckland Hospital AATP Research Project, published in ANZJOG

This ANZJOG study by Auckland AGES Fellow Dr Jessica Dunning and colleagues examined ethnic disparities in endometriosis and persistent pelvic pain care across two New Zealand tertiary hospital gynaecology departments in 2021. The research analysed referral patterns for women aged 16-52 with chronic pelvic pain conditions and found significant ethnic inequities, with European women having substantially higher referral rates to specialist services compared to Māori, Pacific, and Asian populations.

While these disparities were evident at the population level for secondary care referrals and surgical waitlisting, they disappeared once patients reached specialist gynaecology clinics, suggesting barriers exist primarily at the primary care and health system navigation levels. The study highlights the need for culturally responsive approaches to address systemic inequities preventing equitable access to specialised women’s health services for endometriosis and pelvic pain management in New Zealand’s diverse population.