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Ethnic variation in service utilisation among children with intellectual disability
- Authors:
- DURA-VILA G., HODES M.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 53(11), November 2009, pp.939-948.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The aims of this study were to investigate possible ethnic variation in uptake across child and adolescent mental health and social services as well as any variation there might be in physical and educational services. A survey, carried out in four special schools in London, collected information from teachers using case files; 242 children aged 7 to 17 years with mild and moderate ID were identified. Child and adolescent mental health services uptake was lower for South Asians than for White British. There were statistically significant differences among ethnic groups for community-based social services uptake (being the highest for the Black groups and the lowest for South Asians), and respite care uptake (being the highest for the Black and White European groups and the lowest for South Asians). In regression analysis family structure predicted CAMHS service utilisation and social service community support. Ethnicity predicted use of respite care. As hypothesised, there were significant ethnic differences in service use with particularly low use by South Asians. However it is suggested that these differences might arise because of differences in family organisation. More South Asian children lived in two-parent families, which may be better able to provide care than single-parent families. Other factors such as variation in parental belief systems and variation in psychopathology are also discussed.