Lay summary
This project identifies and examines health system barriers that young Māori women in the Counties Manukau region experience when they seek to access Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARCs). Young Māori women are expected to navigate an obstacle course that stems, in part, from the confusing array of reproductive health policy objectives and programmes deployed by commissioning agencies and local primary health care organisations. The project uses a Kaupapa Māori approach that locates Māori understandings of fertility and reproductive health as normal and central to Māori health and reproductive wellbeing. Utilising this approach, an evidence base is developed from interviews with Māori community leaders, agencies, organisations, and key relevant policy and research. The evidence base proposes innovative pathways that support young Māori women from Counties Manukau to access LARCs in ways that are equitable, timely, informed and guard against coercion.