Diabetes mellitus morbidity in New Zealand: A geographic perspective

Abstract

Small scale studies in New Zealand have found a higher incidence of diabetes mellitus in Maoris than in Europeans. In an attempt to determine the morbidity of this disease at a national level the 1971 Census included a question to be answered only by those under treatment for diabetes. This data was used to define the spatial patterns of diabetes morbidity in the total population, and in the Maori and non-Maori races. For the total population the patterns of the sexes were similar with a significantly high incidence area across the northern half of the North Island, where the majority of the Maoris reside. Low morbidity generally prevailed elsewhere. The racial patterns were the reverse of each other especially in the North Island.

Districts with an elevated Maori morbidity had a low disease incidence in non-Maoris. The accuracy of this Census data was evaluated by comparison with the findings from previous epidemiological studies of this disease in New Zealand.