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Scrutinising Pacific Island Babies

A study of Pacific Island families in New Zealand will follow 1,000 babies born at Auckland's Middlemore Hospital, and their families, during the first two years of the babies' lives to gather specific information on Pacific Island people's health.

"Professionals working with Pacific families have expressed the difficulties of operating in systems where relevant data are lacking," says project co-director Dr Janis Paterson.

The study, the first of its kind, is broad in size and scope, allowing researchers to look at interactions between the many factors involved in child development and family functioning, rather than focusing on factors in isolation. The study will explore the development of the baby within a family context, including environmental, psychosocial, health, parenting and services factors.