People from ethnic minority backgrounds are more likely to experience worse migraine care and fear discrimination because of their condition, a survey by a major UK charity has found.
Migraines include severe headaches as well as dizziness, numbness, and vision problems. About one in seven people in the UK is affected by the condition.
A representative survey of 2,200 people by the Migraine Trust found that 23% of mixed-ethnicity, 19% of Asian and 16% of black respondents said their ethnicity had negatively affected their care – citing poor treatment and even racism – compared to only 7% of white respondents.
Black people are more likely to fear discrimination or a negative impact on their career because of migraine, which is 37%, compared to more than a quarter (26%) of white respondents.
About a fifth (19%) of Asian respondents and 14% of black respondents said they worried they wouldn’t be believed about their migraines, compared to 8% of white respondents.
Abigail Kabirou, 26, said her ethnicity has negatively impacted her experience of migraine care. “As a Black woman, the stereotype that we can endure more pain deeply affected the care I received,” Kabirou said. “Migraines are already hard enough to explain; additional barriers like gender or the color of your skin can’t make it even harder.”
Rob Music, chief executive of the Migraine Trust, said the inequality in care people faced “cannot be allowed to continue”.
“It’s sad to see that many people avoid seeking support for their migraines, or even talking about it, because they fear it will lead to social punishment, including job loss and stigmatization. For some people, migraine is not only a health condition, but adds an additional layer of inequality, with gender, ethnicity and social status all influencing how they are treated or expected to be treated,” Musick said. Said.
“We cannot let this continue and action is needed at all levels of society so that people with migraine feel understood, safe and heard.”
The research found that 91% of all participants who experienced migraine had spoken to a health professional, but many reported that they were misdiagnosed, dismissed or inadequately treated.
Examples included women being told that their migraines were hormonal or “just part of being a woman”, while young people felt they were dismissed as “exaggerating or attention-seeking”.
Georgina Carr, chief executive of the Neurological Alliance, said: “This report shines a harsh and necessary light on the reality that migraine is not experienced equally. Your gender, ethnicity or income should never determine whether you are believed, supported, or able to access the care you need, yet too many people with migraine face this.”
He added: “These findings reflect what we see in the neurological community: people are being dismissed, misdiagnosed, or left to cope alone because systems are not designed with them in mind.
“We need urgent action from employers, healthcare leaders and policymakers to close these gaps. Tackling the disparities highlighted in this report is essential if we are serious about improving neurological care and ensuring no one is left behind.”
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 that their concerns are heard. We know that migraine can be extremely debilitating for those who experience it, and we encourage people to reach out to their local GP practice for support as there are many treatment options available on the NHS.”
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