LAUSR

Background: In Aotearoa health inequities for Māori are seen across the life course These inequities are influenced by the social determinants of health and the cumulative effects of colonisation Total cardiovascular disease mortality rate among Māori is more than twice as high as that among non-Māori Maintaining a healthy nutrition lifestyle is important to reduce the risk of CVD This presentation will discuss the literature and oral narratives from three disparate sources of nutrition advice mātauranga (knowledge) Māori, Western science, and social media as part of a discussion of a larger Heart Foundation funded kaupapa Māori research project Method: The review was conducted in three parts 1) A literature search of the current evidence base of nutrition recommendations and guidelines, 2) Utilisation of community partners and networks within Māori health to collect information about mātauranga Māori in nutrition Discussions with kaumatua (elders) and others in the Māori community who hold traditional knowledge A search of oral sources of mātauranga, for example whakatauki (proverbs) and karakia (prayers) looking for nutrition or food references, 3) An appraisal of popular social media and current trends in the non-evidence-based nutrition space Results: The results will highlight the findings of the review and provide some detail from focus group sessions with communities Conclusion: To effectively navigate nutrition advice, it needs to be tailored in a way that is acceptable to the community Building the Māori nutrition evidence base in order to inform policy makers and the design of nutrition programmes for Māori is recommended