Health service utilisation by quota, family-sponsored and convention refugees in their first five years in New Zealand

Abstract

Objective: This study examines and compares health service utilisation patterns between New Zealand’s (NZ) three main refugee groups and the general NZ population. Methods: We used Statistics NZ’s Integrated Data Infrastructure to identify quota, family-sponsored and convention refugees arriving in NZ (2007–2013). We analysed contact with primary care, emergency department (ED), and specialist mental health services for the first five years in NZ. Logistic regression models, adjusted for age, sex and deprivation, compared health service use between refugee groups and the general NZ population in years 1 and 5. Results: Quota refugees were more likely to be enrolled and in contact with primary care and specialist mental health services in year 1 than family-sponsored and convention refugees, but differences reduced over time. All refugee groups were more likely than the general NZ population to have presented to ED in year 1. Conclusions: Quota refugees were better connected with health services in year 1 than the other two refugee groups. The types of frontline health services accessed by refugee groups differed from the general NZ population. Implications for Public Health: There should be systematic and equal support across all NZ regions to help refugees (regardless of visa type) navigate the NZ health system.