Quality of migraine care dependent on ethnicity, UK survey finds

"The 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 poorer treatment and even racism compared with only 7% of white respondents. Black people were also more likely to fear discrimination or a negative effect on their career owing to migraines, at 37%, compared with just over a quarter (26%) of white respondents. Almost a fifth (19%) of Asian respondents and 14% of black respondents said they worried they would not be believed about their migraines, compared with 8% 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."

"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,"

A representative survey of 2,200 people by the Migraine Trust found that people from mixed-ethnicity, Asian and black backgrounds report substantially worse migraine care than white respondents. Reported issues include poorer treatment, experiences of racism, fear of career impact, and worries about not being believed. Specific rates included 23% of mixed-ethnicity, 19% of Asian and 16% of black respondents saying ethnicity negatively affected care, compared with 7% of white respondents. Black respondents reported higher fear of discrimination (37%). Firsthand accounts cite racial pain stereotypes and calls for action to address inequalities across society.

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