Carosika Collaborative

Preterm birth, the birth of a pēpi/baby before 37 weeks of pregnancy, impacts about 4,500 whānau every year in Aotearoa New Zealand (8% of all births). Like the global trend, there has been little or no change in the rates of preterm birth for several decades. But more importantly in Aotearoa, we see significant differences in the chance of preterm birth and outcomes after preterm birth for different groups. System privilege and advantage favour European and Asian (non-Indian) women/people, babies and families at risk of, and/or experiencing preterm birth compared with whānau Māori and Pacific and Indian communities.

The Carosika Collaborative is a national transdisciplinary stakeholder-initiated and -led group established in 2020 that brings together whānau, community, healthcare professionals, healthcare services, researchers, policy-makers and funders with a vision ‘Equity in preterm birth outcomes will be achieved in Aotearoa by lowering preterm birth rates and optimising preterm birth care’. The Collaborative works through education and promotion, advocacy and community engagement, and research and measurement of impact, as well as seeking funding and resource to pursue our mahi and support others working in the field of preterm birth. Our ambitious goal is to reduce the rate of preterm birth by 20% and achieve equity for all.

The Carosika Collaborative has developed Taonga Tuku Iho, the first ever national best practice guide for preterm birth care, for use across Aotearoa by all healthcare providers. Taonga Tuku Iho aims to provide recommendations and the resources to effectively implement them to improve the prediction, prevention and preparation for all types of preterm birth and thus support equitable access to high-quality and consistent care across Aotearoa.