Tuku iho, he tapu te upoko. From our ancestors, the head is sacred : indigenous theory building and therapeutic framework development for Māori children and adolescents with traumatic brain injury

Elder, Hinemoa

Tuku iho, he tapu te upoko. From our ancestors, the head is sacred : indigenous theory building and therapeutic framework development for Māori children and adolescents with traumatic brain injury A thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health Massey University, Wellington Hinemoa Elder - 2012 - electronic document (178 pages) ; PDFfile

PhD thesis (Massey University, Wellington)

International research shows ‘minority’ culture and indigeneity are risk factors for traumatic brain injury (TBI) and for differential responses by rehabilitation services. New
Zealand epidemiological studies align with those findings showing that Māori tamariki (children) and taiohi (adolescents) are significantly over represented in TBI populations with
poorer outcomes, including higher mortality rates.
This study asked two questions. Firstly, what do Māori people say about tamariki and taiohi TBI in the context of the Māori cultural belief that the head is the most sacred part of
the body? Secondly, how could this information be used to build theory and inform a framework to address the rehabilitation needs of this group?

Eighteen marae wānanga (culture specific fora in traditional meeting houses) were held in urban, rural and remote locations. Participation in these marae wānanga established an overt collective Māori cultural orientation at the entry point of the study. This collective view meant that marae themselves were considered as respondents. Data were analysed
using Rangahau Kaupapa Māori (Māori indigenous research methods) and informed by elements of grounded theory. (From the abstract). Record #9190


ADOLESCENTS
ABUSIVE HEAD TRAUMA
CHILD ABUSE
CHILDREN
CULTURAL ISSUES
HAUORA TINANA
HAUORA WAIRUA
MĀORI
PATU TAMARIKI
PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS
RANGAHAU MĀORI
TAIOHI
TAMARIKI
THESES
TIKANGA TUKU IHO
TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY
TUHINGA WHAKAPAE
YOUNG PEOPLE


NEW ZEALAND