Key updates from NZ Health Survey results 2020/21

Please note, this content was originally published on the old ODI website. It was added to Whaikaha's website in July 2024. External links may no longer be valid.

The NZ Health Survey 2020/21 results have been released. We take a look at their findings for disabled people. 

The following are key findings. 

There was progress in several domains.

• • Unmet needs in healthcare seems to have reduced for disabled people across several indicators, including:
    • Unmet need for GP due to cost for disabled people reduced from 22% in 2019 to 16% in 2020
    • Unmet need for GP due to lack of transport for disabled people reduced from 11% in 2019 to 8% in 2020.
    • Unmet need for primary healthcare for disabled people reduced from 48% in 2019 to 42% in 2020
  • Smoking cessation has increased among disabled people, from 10% in 2018 to 16% in 2020
  • Disabled people seem to be getting more sleep, with 50% meeting recommendations compared to 47% in 2018.
  • There has been a reduction in disabled people reporting to have poor or fair self-rated health from 44% in 2018 to 41% in 2020.
  • There has been a slight reduction in ED visits for disabled people from 32% in 2018 to 30% in 2020.

However, areas of concern do remain.

• Inequities still persist, with NZHS 2020 results indicating:
  • Disabled people were almost 12 times as likely to have reported their self-rated health as being poor, compared to non-disabled people.
  • Disabled people were seven times as likely to have an unmet need for after-hours due to lack of transport
  • Disabled people were almost five times as likely to suffer from psychological distress
  • Disabled people were almost four times as likely to have an unfilled prescription due to cost
  • 11% of disabled people reported having an unmet need for GP due to COVID-19, compared to 6% of non-disabled people.
• COVID-19 may have further contributed to a decline in mental wellbeing as well as a decline in health promoting behaviours. This includes:
  • Increase in mood and/or anxiety disorder among disabled people from 35% in 2019, to 40% in 2020.
  • Increase in hazardous drinking among disabled people, from 25% in 2019 to 27% in 2020.
  • Increase in use of e-cigarettes among disabled people, from 5% in 2018 to 9% in 2020.
  • Reduction in disabled people meeting vegetable and fruit intake recommendations, from 30% in 2018 to 26% in 2020.
  • Slight reduction in disabled people meeting physical activity recommendations, from 30% in 2019 to 28% in 2020.

 More info found here: https://www.health.govt.nz/publication/annual-update-key-results-2020-21-new-zealand-health-survey external URL