Intellectual disabilities across cultures

Ethnic factors in mental health service utilisation among people with intellectual disability in high‐income countries: systematic review

“…The perceived cause of ID could be attributed, in some cultures, to non‐biological causes and therefore, not amenable to medical treatment. For example, it could be explained as due to the fallibility of parents, such as the innate inferiority of the mother, bad sexual practices, or wrongdoings during pregnancy, or to external causes, such as curses or the evil eye (O'Hara & Bouras 2007). The expectation that ID can be cured may not be uncommon in non‐Western cultures.…”

“…There are important socio‐cultural factors influencing the understanding and impact of having an offspring with intellectual disability (ID), and also help‐seeking behaviour (O'Hara & Bouras 2007). This may occur because of the association between ethnicity and socio‐economic disadvantage (Stancliffe & Lakin 2006), or because of cultural variation in beliefs about causation, treatment and prognosis of ID.…”

Ethnic variation in service utilisation among children with intellectual disability

“…2000). This may partly explain why families from some ethnic minority communities seem not to be interested in educational or habilitative programmes (O'Hara & Bouras 2007).…”

“…For example, if the cause of ID is considered reversible, many carers may live in the hope that their disabled offspring will get better or be cured (Fatimilehin & Nadirshaw 1994;Katbamna et al 2000). This may partly explain why families from some ethnic minority communities seem not to be interested in educational or habilitative programmes (O'Hara & Bouras 2007).…”

“…The impact of having a child with intellectual disability (ID) is influenced by the socio‐cultural context in which the individual lives (O'Hara & Bouras 2007). This arises because of cultural variation in beliefs about the learning disability, and different living and care arrangements, alongside economic factors.…”