Service user engagement by ethnicity groups at a children's gender identity service in the UK.

OBJECTIVES

Gender service utilisation according to ethnicity is largely under-researched. The present research looked at demographics and service user-engagement according to ethnicity of young people accessing a gender service for children.

METHOD

A total of 2063 ( 14.19 years, 2.59, = 556, 1495 = 1495, =12) referrals were included in the analysis. Self-defined ethnicity in financial years (FY) 2016-2017, 2018-2019, and referrer-defined ethnicity in FY 2020-2021 were compared between years, to the national UK-population, and child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) averages. Numbers of offered, attended and non-attended appointments were compared across the White and the ethnic minority population (EMP).

RESULTS

Across years 93.35% young people identified as White (higher than the CAMHS and national population averages); 6.65% as EMP. Service utilisation was similar in FY 2016-2017. In FY 2018-2019, the EMP subgroup was offered and attended more appointments compared to the White subgroup, 'did not attended' average was similar.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of young people self-identified with a White ethnic-background. Service engagement was comparable between the EMP and White ethnicity subgroups in 2016-2017, while the EMP group was offered and attended more appointments in 2018-2019. Due to the low EMP group numbers, findings need to be interpreted with caution.