Asian and ethnic minority health research in Aotearoa New Zealand: a scoping review of grey literature (2011-2020)

Abstract

Aims: A wealth of knowledge, especially on ethnic and migrant health, is located in "grey literature" (GL), i.e., material that is not formally published. This article reviews four types of GL: a) student theses, b) research reports, c) government, and d) non-government unpublished research on Asian and other ethnic minority (A/EM) health in Aotearoa New Zealand, covering a decade between 2011 and 2020.

Methods: A range of flexible data collection methods was used for each GL category. The application of inclusion and exclusion criteria resulted in the selection of 167 articles for review.

Results: Key themes on methodologies, participants and identities, acculturation, barriers to health and recommendations for changes in healthcare are highlighted in the findings. In general, there was greater representation of intersectional identities, deployment of non-Western methodologies to address A/EM health problems and a broader diversity of health conditions addressed in GL compared with published A/EM research.

Conclusion: All four GL categories are important knowledge bases for A/EM health in ways not captured in published research, with student research in particular offering creative and cutting-edge conceptual health frameworks. There needs to be greater visibility of GL, especially non-conventional frameworks and methodologies for A/EM health knowledge.