People » Centre for Public Health Research

Sunia Foliaki

PhD

Sunia Foliaki is a public health physician by training. His research focus is among Pacific populations both in New Zealand and in the Pacific islands. His research covers a number of Pacific public health studies including the epidemiology of cancer and asthma. He is also working closely with Pacific islands countries on food security policies and programmes and conducts regional consultancies with Pacific islands ministries of health on non-communicable diseases in general. He is currently conducting a qualitative study on Palliative Care among Pacific populations in New Zealand; to assess the use of palliative care services among Pacific populations and to explore the views of Pacific people on challenges and experiences in such services. These findings will contribute to recent work to inform policies and develop evidence based guidelines to improving Palliative health care for Pacific people in New Zealand.

Publications
Current Research Projects

PUBLICATIONS

Publication	Type
Eme P, Burlingame B, Kim N, Foliaki S, Wham C, Douwes J. Obesity measures in the Kiribati population: a need to reclassify body mass index cut-points. BMC Public Health, 2020; 20: 1092.	Journal
Foliaki S, Pulu V, Denison H, Weatherall M, Douwes J. Pacific meets west in addressing palliative care for Pacific populations in Aotearoa/New Zealand: a qualitative study. BMC Palliative Care, 2020; 19:100.	Journal
Eme P, Kim N, Douwes J, Burlingame B, Foliaki S, Wham C. Are households in Kiribati nutrition secure? A case study of South Tarawa and Butaritari. Food and Nutrition Bulletin, 2020; 41(1): 131-146.	Journal
Sarfati D, Dyer R, Sam F, Barton M, Bray F, Buadromo E, Ekeroma A, Foliaki S, Fong J, Herman J, Huggins L, Maoate K, Meredith I, Mola G, Palafox N, Puloka V, Shin H, Skeen J, Snowdon W, Tafuna’i M, Teng A, Watters D, Vivili P. Cancer control in the Pacific: big challenges facing small island states. Lancet Oncol, 2019; 20(9): e475-e492.	Journal
Sarfati D, Dyer R, Vivili P, Herman J, Spence D, Sullivan R, Weller D, Bray F, Hill S, Bates C, Foliaki S, Palafox N, Luciani S, Ekeroma A, Hospedales J. Cancer control in small island nations: from local challenges to global action, Lancet Oncology, 2019; 20(9): e535-e548.	Journal
Ekeroma A, Dyer R, Palafox N, Maoate K, Skeen J, Foliaki S, Vallely A, Fong J, Hibma M, Mola G, Reichhardt M, Taulung L, Aho G, Fakakovikaetau T, Watters D, Toliman P, Buenconsejo-Lum L, Sarfati D. Cancer management in the Pacific region: a report on innovation and good practice. Lancet Oncology, 2019; 20(9): e493-e502.	Journal
Brewer N, Foliaki S, Bromhead C, Viliamu-Amusia I, Pelefoti-Gibson L, Jones T, Pearce N, Potter J, Douwes J. Acceptability of Human Papillomavirus Self-Sampling for Cervical-Cancer Screening in Under-Screened Māori and Pasifika Women: A Pilot Study. NZ Med J, 2019; 132 (1497): 21-31.	Journal
Eme P, Douwes J, Kim N, Foliaki S, Burlingame B. Review of methodologies for assessing sustainable diets and potential for development of harmonised indicators. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2019; 16(7), 1184.	Journal
Eme P, Burlingame B, Douwes J, Kim N, Foliaki S. Quantitative estimates of dietary intake in households of South Tarawa, Kiribati. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 2019; 28(1):131-138.	Journal
Foliaki S. (2018). Cancer: A neglected Pacific health issue. World Cancer Congress. 1-4 Oct, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.	Conference Presentations
Foliaki S. (2018). What is the pattern of cancer in Pacific nations? World Cancer Congress.1-4 Oct, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.	Conference Presentations
Sarfati D, Robson B, Garvey G, Goza T, Foliaki S, Millar E, Scott N. Improving the health of Indigenous people globally. Lancet Oncology, 2018; 19(6): e276.	Journal
Burlingame B, Eme P, Foliaki S, Kim N, Douwes J. Sustainable Diets in Small Island Developing States of the Western Pacific: A Review. Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism, 2017; 71(S2): 809-809	Conference Proceedings
Foliaki S, Bates C, Tukana I, Palafox N. Cancer control in the Pacific: A South Pacific collaborative approach. Cancer Epidemiology, 2017; 50(Part B):193-198.	Journal
Logeman C, Flanigan J, Foliaki S, Bray F, Barton M, Sitas F. Cancer in small states – No small matter. Cancer Epidemiology, 2017; 50 (Part B):173-175.	Journal
Tervonen H, Bray F, Foliaki S, Roder D. Cancer epidemiology in the small nations of Pacific Islands. Cancer Epidemiology, 2017; 50 (Part B):184-192.	Journal
Tervonen H, Bray F, Foliaki S, Roder D. Cancer registration challenges in low- and middle-income countries-the case of the Pacific Islands. Eur J Cancer Care, 2017; 26(1): e12650.	Journal
Tupai-Firestone R, Tuisano H, Manukia M, Kaholokula K, Foliaki S, Kingi T, Kruger R, Breier B, O'Connell A, Borman B, Ellison-Loschmann L. Understanding Pasifika youth and the obesogenic environment, Auckland and Wellington, New Zealand. NZ Med J, 2016; 129 (1434) 6879.	Journal
Pearce N, Ebrahim S, McKee M, Lamptey P, Barreto M, Matheson D, Walls H, Foliaki S, Miranda J, Chimeddamba O, Garcıa-Marcos L, Haines A, Vineis P. Global prevention and control of NCDs: limitations of the standard approach. Journal of Public Health Policy, 2015; 36(4): 408-425.	Journal
Foliaki S. Understanding Kidney Disease, Looking after your Kidneys, Treatment Options, Peritoneal Dialysis, Haemodialysis, Kidney Transplantation. Translated into Tongan for Kidney Health NZ.	Other Publications
Foliaki S, Matheson A. Barriers to Cervical Screening among Pacific Women in a New Zealand Urban Population. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 2015; 16(4): 1565-1570.	Journal
Matheson D, Foliaki S, van Maaren P, Park K. (2014). Keeping countries at the centre; Assessment of WHO’s performance of its roles and functions in the Pacific. Report to World Health Organization (WHO). Centre for Public Health Research (CPHR), Massey University, NZ.	Reports
McKee M, Haines A, Ebrahim S, Lamptey P, Barreto M, Matheson D, Walls H, Foliaki S, Miranda J, Chimeddamba O, Garcıa-Marcos L, Vineis P, Pearce N. Towards a comprehensive global approach to prevention and control of NCDs. Globalization & Health, 2014; 10: 74.	Journal
Mitchell E, Clayton T, Garcıa-Marcos L, Pearce N, Foliaki S, Wong G, and the ISAAC Phase Three Study Group . Birthweight and the risk of atopic diseases: the ISAAC Phase III study. Pediatr Allergy Immunol, 2014; 25(3): 264-270.	Journal
Foliaki S, Brewer N, Pearce N, Snijders P, Meijer C, Waqatakirewa L, Clifford G, Franceschi S. Prevalence of HPV infection and other risk factors in a Fijian population. Infect Agents Cancer, 2014; 9: 14.	Journal
Pearce N, Ebrahim S, McKee M, Lamptey P, Barreto M, Matheson D, Walls H, Foliaki S, Miranda J, Chimeddamba O, Garcıa-Marcos L, Haines A, Vineis P. The road to 25x25: how can the five-target strategy reach its goal? Lancet Global Health, 2014; 2(3): e126.	Journal
Pearce N, Brennan P, Foliaki S, Ellison-Loschmann L, D'Souza W, Davey Smith G. The Ikale collaboration: randomized trials of beer recognition. Int J Epidemiol, 2014; 43(1): 81-82.	Journal
Matheson A, Foliaki S, Matheson D. (2013) Improving health through achieving food security in Tonga: a way forward. Report for the World Health Organisation. Centre for Public Health Research (CPHR), Massey University, NZ.	Reports
Matheson D, Foliaki S, Matheson A, Cook S. (2012) An exploratory study towards developing comprehensive food security indicators across sectors and in two Pacific countries. Report for the World Health Organisation. Centre for Public Health Research (CPHR), Massey University, NZ.	Reports
Foliaki S. (2012) Hong Kong (China) Health Service Delivery Profile: Literature Review on Health Service Delivery Models and Health Service Delivery Packages in Hong Kong. World Health Organization. Malaysia.	Reports
Douwes J, Slater T, McLean D, Pearce N, Judd L, Tupai-Firestone R, Dryson E, Walls C, Foliaki S, Harding E, Duckett H, Cheung K, Coenraads P, Shanthakumar M. (2012) Occupational dermatitis in New Zealand cleaners. Study report for the Department of Labour.Centre for Public Health Research (CPHR), Massey University, NZ.	Reports
Foliaki S, Best D, 'Akau'ola S, Cheng S, Borman B, Pearce N. Cancer incidence in four Pacific countries: Tonga, Fiji Islands, Cook Islands and Niue. Pacific Health Dialogue, 2011; 17(1): 21-32.	Journal
Moore M, Baumann F, Foliaki S, Goodman M, Haddock R, Maraka R, Roder D, Koroivueta J, Vinit T, Whippy H, Sobue T. Cancer epidemiology in the Pacific Islands - past, present and future. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2010; 11(S2): 99-106.	Journal
Foliaki S, Pearce N, Björkstén B, Mallol J, Montefort S, von Mutius E, and the ISAAC Phase Three Study Group . Antibiotic use in infancy and symptoms of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and eczema in children 6 and 7 years old: International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood Phase III. J of Allergy Clin Immunol, 2009; 124(5): 982-9.	Journal
Lai C, Beasley R, Crane J, Foliaki S, Shah J, Weiland S, and the ISAAC Phase Three Study Group . Global variation in the prevalence and severity of asthma symptoms: phase three of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Thorax, 2009; 64(6): 476-83.	Journal
Foliaki S, Fakakovikaetau T, D'Souza W, Latu S, Tutone V, Cheng S, Pearce N. Reduction in asthma morbidity following a community-based asthma self-management programme in Tonga. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis, 2009; 13(1): 142-7.	Journal
Foliaki S, Annesi-Maesano I, Tuuau-Potoi N, Waqatakirewa L, Cheng S, Douwes J, Pearce N. Risk factors for symptoms of childhood asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema in the Pacific: an ISAAC Phase III study. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis, 2008; 12(7): 799-806.	Journal
Foliaki S. (2008) Epidemiology of asthma in selected Pacific countries. Centre for Public Health Research (CPHR), Massey University, NZ.	Reports
Foliaki S, Jeffreys M, Pearce N. (2008) Tonga's Health 2006. Technical Report No 28. Centre for Public Health Research (CPHR), Massey University, NZ.	Reports
Dachs G, Currie M, McKenzie F, Jeffreys M, Cox B, Foliaki S, Le Marchand L, Robinson B. Cancer disparities in indigenous Polynesian populations: Māori, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific people. Lancet Oncol, 2008; 9(5): 473-84.	Journal
Foliaki S. (2007). Epidemiology of asthma in selected Pacific countries. A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Epidemiology (PhD), Massey University, Wellington, NZ.	Thesis
Foliaki S, Annesi-Maesano I, Daniel R, Fakakovikaetau T, Tuuau-Potoi N, Waqatakirewa L, Cheng S, Pearce N. Prevalence of symptoms of childhood asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema in the Pacific: the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Allergy, 2007; 62(3): 259-64.	Journal
Cohet C, Cheng S, MacDonald C, Baker M, Foliaki S, Huntington N, Douwes J, Pearce N. Infections, medication use, and the prevalence of symptoms of asthma, rhinitis, and eczema in childhood. J Epidemiol Community Health, 2004; 58(10): 852-7.	Journal
Foliaki S, Fakakovikaetau T, Waqatakirewa L, Pearce N. Health research in the Pacific. Pac Health Dialog, 2004; 11(2): 199-203.	Journal
Foliaki S, Jeffreys M, Wright C, Blakey K, Pearce N. Cancer in Pacific people in New Zealand: a descriptive study. Pac Health Dialog, 2004; 11(2): 94-100.	Journal
Foliaki S, Nielsen S, Björkstén B, von Mutius E, Cheng S, Pearce N, and the ISAAC Phase One Study Group . Antibiotic sales and the prevalence of symptoms of asthma, rhinitis, and eczema: The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Int J Epidemiol, 2004; 33(3): 558-63.	Journal
Pearce N, Foliaki S, Sporle A, Cunningham C. Genetics, race, ethnicity, and health. BMJ, 2004; 328(7447): 1070-2.	Journal
Foliaki S, Pearce N. Prevalence and causes of diabetes in Pacific people. Pac Health Dialog, 2003; 10(2): 90-8.	Journal
Foliaki S, Pearce N. Changing pattern of ill health for indigenous people. BMJ, 2003; 327(7412): 406-7.	Journal
Foliaki S, Pearce N. Prevention and control of diabetes in Pacific people. BMJ, 2003; 327(7412): 437-9.	Journal

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Sunia Foliaki

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