Physical health of people with intellectual disability across cultures

Abstract

It is proved beyond doubt that people with intellectual disabilities experience higher rates of mental and physical ill-health, as well as excess mortality, often from avoidable causes. Emerging evidence suggests disparities in care for people with intellectual disability based on ethnicity. Poorer care for people from ethnic minority backgrounds may be due to cultural perceptions, interpersonal care barriers, and an increased risk of physical health problems. Current interventions primarily focus on changing attitudes of health professionals, prompting interactions between patients and physicians, or changing the healthcare system and improving care access to improve well-being. However, health research in minority populations within the intellectual disability population is limited. Further efforts are essential to understand disease risk factors and presentation in these groups, and to identify interventions which facilitate help-seeking in patients and their carers.