Email chelsea.harris@otago.ac.nz
PhD topic
Wāhine Māori experiences of and Ngāi Tahu matauranga regarding menopause and post-menopausal sexual and reproductive health.
Supervisors: Dr Christina McKerchar
Co-supervisors: Dr Angela Curl, Dr Kelly Tikao, Dr Maira Patu and Dr Tania Huria
About
Chelsea (Ngāi Tahu) has a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery, and a Bachelor of Biomedical Science with Honours. She is carrying out her PhD in the Department of Population Health in Christchurch part time alongside her clinical work and training as a doctor in Urgent Care.
She has previously conducted research exploring wāhine Māori experiences of sexual healthcare (publications from this research pending as of October 2024). Her previous clinical work has primarily focused on women's health and general practice.
Research interests
Sexual and reproductive health, health literacy, health equity for Māori, Mana Wāhine.
Background
The sexual and reproductive health of older women is not something that tends to get much attention in mainstream society. Reproductive healthcare focuses on people of child-bearing age. This leaves older women at risk of substandard care in relation to issues like sexually transmitted infections, sexuality difficulties, painful intercourse, etc, particularly since contraception consults are a key clinical opportunity for healthcare providers to screen for sexual health issues (and older women no longer need contraception consults).
Furthermore, menopause tends to be shrouded in mystery. While it is garnering increasing attention in the public eye, this is often through a biomedical lens, which can place a focus on medical issues and therapies. These issues are sequelae of the impacts of colonisation and patriarchy on women's reproductive health. The question then stands – what does mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) have to say regarding the reproductive lifespan, sexuality and sexual health of wāhine who are past childbearing age? How do Māori women experience menopause and sexual health at this stage of life?
Aim of the study
- To explore the experiences wāhine Māori (from Ngāi Tahu) have of menopause and post-menopausal sexual and reproductive health, and their experiences with healthcare providers in relation to this
- To research what Ngāi Tahu mātauranga exists regarding menopause and older wāhine sexual and reproductive wellbeing, how this mātauranga persists today, and how it has been impacted by colonisation
- To investigate how this data might be utilised to inform health interventions, at a community level (by and for Māori), at a healthcare provider level (e.g. Training, clinical guidelines), and at a health policy level