Auckland – Measuring family wellbeing is complicated by the changing structure of families.

But Dr El-Shadan (Dan) Tautolo and his team of researchers at New Zealand’s AUT South campus have stuck in there and followed 1398 Pacific children since they were born at Middlemore Hospital in 2000.

Along the way they have gathered some crucial evidence about Pacific children’s health.

Dr Tautolo says there’s been a prior lack of specific Pacific evidence available in terms of health and wellbeing.

“It is important to have the evidence if you want to advocate for changes. So far, at the last measure, we have still managed to retain more than 1000 in the study which is pretty good.”

Many thought the study would run only for the first couple of years and then end, he says.

“I think they were surprised when we were able to keep the numbers – and about the value of the study.”

The children’s height and weight are measured throughout. A growth curve tracks how fast they are growing and compares them to the World Health Organisation’s growth curve.

“One of the things we found was that by nine years old when compared with standard growth curves, 50 per cent of our kids were overweight or obese, which is really scary.

“Once you think about that further down the track, what is it going to lead to? It’s about providing the evidence now so you can intervene early.”

The next question Dr Tautolo and his researchers asked themselves was – “why is this happening?”

“We are doing a study at the moment to try and understand that. We are running a whole heap of tests – blood pressure, blood tests trying to look for biomarkers – around what’s going on.”

Another key finding is the impact fathers can have on children’s behaviour.

By the age of six, a third of the children had clinical or borderline behavioural problems ranging from being withdrawn, anxious or depressed to hitting other children.

“Key messages for me are self-evident but the more you are involved the less likely your kids are to have problems,” Tautolo says.

“There is robust evidence – now it is taking the evidence and using that to find ways to support dads.”

Pressure to work long hours to provide for the family makes it harder for fathers to find time for their children but it’s about trying to find a balance, he says.

The study is a “highly important” way to advocate for change.

“Not many other studies have that many Pacific participants, with that amount of information.

“How long it will continue really depends on funding, I think the longer it goes, the more valuable it becomes.”

Dr Tautolo completed his doctoral studies in 2011 as the recipient of a health research Council (HRC) Pacific PhD Scholarship.

Dr Tautolo is of both Cook Islands Maori and Samoan heritage, and is deeply passionate about being involved in research and activities to improve and enhance the health and wellbeing of his Pacific communities here in NZ. Part of his commitment to achieving this is through involvement over the last several years with mentoring programmes for young Pacific students at tertiary institutions. As a mentor, Dr Tautolo hopes to contribute to growing the Pacific research capacity within the health sector and support the development of Pacific-led solutions and interventions to address the needs of Pacific communities.

He is a member of a variety of Pacific health advisory groups.