Understanding dementia among UK Bangladeshi: a synthesis of qualitative research on South Asian people with dementia

The number of patients with dementia in the UK is estimated to be 821,884, representing 1.3% of the UK population (Luengo-Fernandez, Leal, & Gary, 2010). However, there are no exact figures of the prevalence of dementia in ethnic minority groups in the UK. Estimates range from 11,000 (Year 2004) to 15,000 (Year 2009) people from black and minority ethnic groups with dementia (or 1.7% of all people with dementia in the UK (Dementia Advocacy Network, 2009; Department of Health, 2009). It is acknowledged that this figure is likely to be a considerable under-representation and set to rise because the large number of South Asian migrants who came to the UK between 1950 and 1970 for work are now ageing. Dementia in the South Asian ethnic groups has been characterized as a ‘hidden population with a hidden problem’ (Brownlie, 1991; Wilkinson, 2002). South Asian people with dementia are a considerably marginalized group for which the existing literature is limited (Wilkinson & Bowes, 2003). Among all the South Asian ethnic groups, the Bangladeshi population is one of the fastest growing minority groups and yet they have the lowest education rates and experience disproportionately high rates of unemployment, overcrowding; the poorest socio-economic and worst health positions than the overall population in the UK (Garbin, 2005; ONS, 2002). Despite the increasing number of older people from the Bangladeshi community, it appears that little or no specific research has been carried out on their understanding of dementia. However, there seems to be some evidence that research has been carried out on South Asian people as opposed to the Bangladeshi community alone. It is anticipated that the synthesis will provide a narrative of culturally sensitive issues in order to inform services about a growing immigrant population who are few or hard to reach. The main outcomes of this synthesis will be attitudes, beliefs and perceptions of patients, carers and health professionals on the barriers to facilities as well as perceptions of what is helpful (or not) and why.