Ethnic disparities in community antibacterial dispensing in New Zealand, 2015

Across all ages the annual per capita rates of community antibiotic dispensing in Aotearoa during 2015 were approximately 3 times higher than those in Sweden, 2 times higher than those in Denmark, 1.7 times higher than those in Canada, and 1.3 times higher than those in the US.

Rates of dispensing in Aotearoa were lowest for people of Asian ethnicity and highest for people of Pacific and Maori ethnicity.

They were 26% higher in the winter months (April-September) than in the summer months (October-March) most likely reflecting increased antibiotic prescribing for patients with coughs and colds.