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1. What can learning disability nurses do to help people with learning disabilities from minority ethnic communities?
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Correct answer:
People with learning disabilities from minority ethnic communities are at particular risk of discrimination in gaining access to appropriate health care. Problems arise if professionals are not aware of cultural or language issues (Department of Health [DH], 2001). The Department of Health emphasises the need to make specific changes to make sure that the most excluded groups, including people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds (BMEs) are met.
In many ways, people from an ethnic minority background have the same problems of health access and discrimination as people with learning disabilities, for similar reasons. Minority ethnic communities face substantial inequalities and discrimination in employment, education, health and social services. There is a link between poor health and poorer socio-economic conditions. Lower socio-economic status is linked to higher rates of chronic illness in the most disadvantaged minority ethnic communities.
It is also important to note that the prevalence of learning disability is three times higher than average in South Asian population in the United Kingdom compared with the rest of the population and is also higher in the African Caribbean community. Higher prevalence of learning difficulties in South Asian communities has been linked to high levels of material and social deprivation. These combine with other factors such as poor access to maternal health care, misclassification and higher rates of environmental or genetic risk factors.
People with learning disabilities from black and minority ethnic groups are therefore subjected to dual discrimination. They are a considerably vulnerable group to poor health outcomes.
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2. What factors may contribute to people from ethnic minority groups and people with learning disabilities have worse access to health?
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Correct answer:
- Signposting of services may be poor.
- Screening may be too general, where it needs to be more specific.
- Lack of information in accessible formats/language, and so on.
- Reluctance to engage with services.
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3. What factors do you need to consider as a learning disability nurse?
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Correct answer: Carers and people with learning disabilities from ethnic minority backgrounds may have the following:
- A lower level of knowledge of services available for disabled persons.
- Poorer standards of communication.
- Have delays in diagnosis and treatment.
- Be isolated and lack support.
- Low take up and access to services.
- Higher levels of unmet need.
- Lower levels of access to benefits compared to white claimants.
- Higher than average levels of mental health problems from carers.
- They are also more likely to suffer inappropriate housing, poor occupational mobility and impacts of immigration policies that divide familiesz`.
