A survey by a leading UK charity has found that people from different ethnic minority backgrounds are most likely to experience worse migraine care and to fear discrimination because of their condition.
Migraines are mostly characterised with symptoms of dizziness, uneasiness, numbness, and vision problems. But, a survey by a leading UK charity has found that people from different ethnic minority backgrounds are most likely to experience worse migraine care and to fear discrimination because of their condition.
About one in seven people in the UK or in the world is affected by this condition. According to The Guardian, the representative survey of 2,200 people by the Migraine Trust found that 23 per cent of mixed-ethnicity, 19 per cent of Asian, and 16 per cent of black respondents said their ethnicity had negatively affected their care.
When it was compared to white correspondents the scale was just 7 per cent, resulting in poor treatment and racism.
As people of ethnic minority are mostly black and they are likely to fear discrimination or a negative effect owing most to migraines.
Almost a fifth (19 per cent) of Asian respondents and 14 per cent of black respondents said they worried they would not be believed about their migraines, compared with 8 per cent of white respondents.
Abigail Kabirou, 26, said her ethnicity negatively affected her experience of migraine care. “As a black woman, the stereotype that we can tolerate more pain deeply affected the care I received,” Kabirou said. “Migraine is already hard enough to explain; there shouldn’t be extra barriers like gender or the colour of your skin making it even harder,” as quoted by The Guardian.
Rob Music, the chief executive of the Migraine Trust, said that the inequities of care people faced “cannot be continued”.
“It is sad to see that so many people avoid seeking support for, or even talking about their migraine for fear it carries social penalties, including job loss and stereotyping. For some, migraine is not only a health condition but adds an additional layer of inequality, with gender, ethnicity and social grade all impacting how they are treated or expected to be treated,” Music said.
“We cannot let this continue and need action across all levels of society so that people with migraine feel understood, safe and heard,” he further added.
An NHS spokesperson said: “All patients, regardless of their background, ethnicity or gender, should have access to high-quality care, and everyone deserves to feel their concerns are listened to. We know migraines can be extremely debilitating for those who experience them, and we encourage people to reach out to their local GP practice for support as there are a range of treatment options available on the NHS.”
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