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People from ethnic minority backgrounds are more likely to experience worse migraine care and to fear discrimination because of their condition, a survey by a leading UK charity has found.
Migraines are characterised by a severe headache, alongside other symptoms including dizziness, numbness and vision problems. About one in seven people in the UK are affected by the condition.
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, safe and heard.”
The research found that for all people who experienced migraines, 91% of participants had spoken to a health professional, but many reported being misdiagnosed, dismissed, or inadequately treated.
Examples included women being told their migraine was hormonal or “just part of being a woman”, while younger people felt they were dismissed as “exaggerating or seeking attention”.
Georgina Carr, the 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 that is precisely what too many people living with migraine are facing.”
She added: “These findings echo what we see across the neurological community: people being dismissed, misdiagnosed, or left to cope alone because the system is not designed with them in mind.
“We urgently need action from employers, healthcare leaders and policymakers to close these gaps. Tackling the inequalities laid bare 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 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.”
