What do we know about the health and health care of people with intellectual disabilities from minority ethnic groups in the United Kingdom? A systematic review.

Background: People with from minority ethnic communities face inequalities in health and health care. This systematic review considers the question of what we know about the health and health care of children and adults with intellectual disabilities from ethnic minority communities in the UK.

Method: Studies published from 1990 to 2018 were identified via electronic literature databases, email requests and cross-citations. Studies were reviewed narratively in relation to identified themes.

Results: Twenty-three studies were identified, most commonly focusing on South Asian communities. Very little information was identified on physical health or physical health care, with the identified evidence tending to focus on mental health care, access to specialist intellectual disability services, and inpatient services.

Conclusion: Little is known about the health status of people with intellectual disabilities from minority ethnic groups in the UK. It is clear that they may experience barriers to accessing specialist intellectual disability services and other forms of health care.