Sandiford Peter
Waitemata District Health Board, Private Bag 93-5031, Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand.
N Z Med J. 2009 Dec 11;122(1307):10-7.
AIM To quantify gender inequality in life expectancy at birth (LEB) in New Zealand and the contribution to it made by different age groups and causes of death. To examine the response of the health sector.METHOD Determination of the trend in sex differences in LEB. Multiple decrement decomposition of LEB differences into components ages and causes. Review of the gender equity policies and priorities of New Zealand's main health sector stakeholders.RESULTS A difference between the sexes in LEB of 4.7 years for Māori and 4.0 years for non-Māori, reverses the historically lower gender disparity among the Māori. Over half of the sex difference in LEB is accounted for by heart disease and all types of cancer and almost a quarter by accidents and suicide but male survival disadvantage is evident in many other causes of death. The health sector is beginning to acknowledge the survival disadvantage of men as inequitable, and reducing disparity as a legitimate goal for health policy.CONCLUSION Although gender inequality in LEB is declining among the non-Māori it remains high among the Māori. Smoking habits may explain some of the difference in LEB but policies must also address the causes of sex differences in accidental death and suicide.
量化新西兰出生时预期寿命（LEB）方面的性别不平等现象，以及不同年龄组和死因对其的影响。研究卫生部门的应对措施。方法：确定LEB性别差异的趋势。将LEB差异进行多因素递减分解，按年龄和死因分类。回顾新西兰主要卫生部门利益相关者的性别平等政策和优先事项。结果：毛利人的LEB性别差异为4.7岁，非毛利人为4.0岁，这扭转了毛利人历史上性别差距较小的情况。LEB性别差异的一半以上是由心脏病和各类癌症造成的，近四分之一是由事故和自杀造成的，但在许多其他死因中男性的生存劣势也很明显。卫生部门开始认识到男性的生存劣势是不公平的，并将减少差距作为卫生政策的合理目标。结论：虽然非毛利人在LEB方面的性别不平等现象正在下降，但毛利人当中这一现象仍然严重。吸烟习惯可能解释了LEB差异的部分原因，但政策也必须解决意外死亡和自杀方面性别差异的成因。
