How is ethnicity reported, described, and analysed in health research in the UK? A bibliographical review and focus group discussions with young refugees (17 October 2023)

Summary

The ethnicity data gap pertains to three major challenges to address ethnic health inequality:

1. Under-representation of ethnic minorities in research
2. Poor data quality on ethnicity
3. Ethnicity data not being meaningfully analysed.

These challenges are especially relevant for research involving under-served migrant populations in the UK. This study in BMC Public Health aimed to review how ethnicity is captured, reported, analysed and theorised within policy-relevant research on ethnic health inequities.

The authors concluded that the multi-dimensional nature of ethnicity is not currently reflected in UK health research studies, where ethnicity is often aggregated and analysed without justification. Researchers should communicate clearly how ethnicity is operationalised for their study, with appropriate justification for clustering and analysis that is meaningfully theorised.